Billy Jenkins (rugby player)

William Joseph Jenkins (18 May 1885 - 23 December 1956) was a Welsh international forward who played club rugby for Canton RFC and Cardiff.[1] He won four caps for Wales ending on the losing side just once.[1]

Billy Jenkins

Birth name	William Joseph Jenkins
Date of birth	(1886-05-18)May 18, 1886
Place of birth	Cardiff, Wales
Date of death	December 23, 1956(1956-12-23) (aged 70)
Place of death	Cardiff, Wales
Rugby union career
Position(s) Flanker Amateur team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) 1903-1909 1909-1920 1915-1921 Canton RFC Cardiff RFC Barbarian F.C. 00 158 2 () National team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) 1912-1913 Wales 4 (0)

Personal history

Jenkins was born in Cardiff in 1885. His younger brother Eddie became a football player of note in the association game winning a single cap for Wales in 1925.[2] Outside of rugby Jenkins worked in the building trade.[2]

Rugby career

Jenkins joined Cardiff in the 1909-10 season, but it wasn't until 1912 that he was selected to play for Wales.[1][3] He turned out on 9 March 1912 against Ireland at the Balmoral Showgrounds, in a match Wales lost 12-5. Two weeks later he played his second game for Wales, this time at Rodney Parade against France.[1] Although Wales won the game, eight members of the Welsh team played their last Five Nations Championship game. Jenkins was one of the seven players to survive this cull and he was chosen to play in two matches the next season in the 1913 Five Nations Championship.[1]

Jenkins was also selected to play for invitational touring team, the Barbarians. He played twice for the Barbarians, a war-time match against the SA Services in 1915 and later against Neath in 1921.[4]

International matches played

Wales

•  France 1912
•  Ireland 1912, 1913
•  Scotland 1913

Bibliography

• Davies, D.E. (1975). Cardiff Rugby Club, History and Statistics 1876-1975. Risca: The Starling Press. ISBN 0950442100.
• Jenkins, John M.; Pierce, Duncan; Auty, Timothy (1991). Who's Who of Welsh International Rugby Players. Wrexham: Bridge Books. ISBN 1-872424-10-4.
• Smith, David; Williams, Gareth (1980). Fields of Praise: The Official History of The Welsh Rugby Union. Cardiff: University of Wales Press. ISBN 0-7083-0766-3.
• Budd, Terry (2017). That Great Little Team On The Other Side Of The Bridge:The 140 Year History of Canton RFC (Cardiff) Season 1876-77 to 2016-17. Penarth, Glamorgan: Beacon Printers Ltd.

References

1. "Billy Jenkins". ESPN. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
2. Jenkins 1991, p. 82. sfn error: no target: CITEREFJenkins1991 (help)
3. Davies 1975, p. 219.
4. "Player Archive: W.J. Jenkins". barbarianfc.co.uk. Retrieved 1 May 2016.