Jenkins 'had to think about' Wales coaching return

Gethin Jenkins played 129 internationals for Wales and five Tests for the British and Irish Lions

Gethin Jenkins says he took time to think before agreeing to take on the Wales defence coach role for a second time.

Jenkins had a full-time position in Wayne Pivac's coaching team between 2020 and 2022.

Now he returns to the Test stage in a temporary capacity as part of the backroom staff of his Cardiff coach Matt Sherratt that travel to face Japan in a two-Test series in July.

Sherratt and Jenkins will adopt caretaker roles before returning to Cardiff as the search for the new permanent head coach continues.

"It was something I had to think about," said Jenkins.

"Matt asked me in Cardiff when we were walking for a coffee between sessions.

"The people that were doing it was probably the main attraction, with him leading it."

Pivac was replaced by Warren Gatland in December 2022, with Jenkins and attack coach Stephen Jones also departing and Mike Forshaw and Alex King coming in.

Jenkins and Jones were told of the decision a few days after Christmas by then Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) chief executive Steve Phillips and performance director Nigel Walker.

Gatland left his role in February 2025 while Phillips and Walker no longer work for Welsh rugby's governing body.

Jenkins says he is looking forward to his short-term return.

"It's hard to turn down that opportunity," said Jenkins.

"It is five or six weeks where you put everything into it that you can, then go back to Cardiff and then it's business as usual.

"The only thing I'm giving up is my time off in the summer, but you're always thinking rugby anyway and I'm looking forward to it."

Learning lessons

Jenkins was appointed Cardiff defence coach in August 2023, marking his return to the club where he played for 13 seasons.

The former Wales prop says he has learned a lot in the time between his two international coaching spells as a result of working at Cardiff "under Matt and other coaches there".

"Working week-in, week-out at club or region gives you more of a grounding," Jenkins said.

"Going straight into it at national level is tough. It was enjoyable because of the buzz of coaching your country, the pressure of international games - there is no bigger feeling.

"I'm taking things on board all the time in how I progress myself as a coach. I'm seven years into my coaching career, which is still not a lot, so like to think I'm learning all the time."

Wales are on a record 17-match international losing streak which has seen them slip to 12th in the world rankings, just one place above Japan.

"The message from the players is how much they want to win," said Jenkins.

"You can't hide from the stats but they want to put an end to that.

"We're focusing on can we get them better and turn that into a performance that gives us a chance of winning the game?"

Friends reunited

Jenkins will link up with some familiar faces in the Wales coaching team having been a team-mate of Rhys Thomas, Leigh Halfpenny and Adam Jones.

"I coached with Rhys Thomas for a while at Cardiff and know him well and I played with Adam and Leigh also," said Jenkins.

"I haven't coached with them but there's a few familiar faces in the coaching group.

"I've worked with Danny [Wilson] as a player, but not as a coach, so it's good to know how he works on the other side of things."

Jenkins has taken on the role Forshaw has adopted in the past two-and-a-half years.

"I'm not starting from scratch, it's just about what tweaks I can make with the players," said Jenkins.

"The other thing is when they come back into Wales camp, they have been at four or five different clubs. Sometimes it is a reset anyway.

"It's about getting them comfortable with the way I want them to defend. It's not easy for some of them because they might be used to defending in a different way.

"When I worked it out, there were only six players I hadn't worked with before. Most of them know me, how I coach and what I want from them."

Respect for Japan

Japan coach Eddie Jones has warned Wales his side will aim to run the tourists off their feet in what will be stifling conditions.

"Watching Japan, that's the way they have played for a long time," said Jenkins.

"They try to get quick ball and as fast rucks as possible. Their stats in that area are high, so we are aware of what's coming.

"It's my job to put things in place so we can slow up their ball and impose our defence."

Jenkins was part of a Wales side who beat Japan 98-0 in 2004 - but says times have changed.

"Back then we would always play against Japan or Romania in the autumn and, no offence, you knew we'd score a lot of points," said Jenkins.

"Those days are long gone. Japan have shown in the last 10, 15 years they can compete with any team on their day.

"We are well aware of that and at home how much pride they will have in trying to beat us."