Jack Jenkins (rugby player)
Encyclopedia
John "Jack" Charles Jenkins (19 April 1880 - 1 December 1971) was a Welsh
international rugby union
forward who played club rugby for Newport and London Welsh. He won just a single cap for Wales
in 1907 but faced both New Zealand and South Africa
at county level with Middlesex and Monmouthshire
.
. He was commissioned into the South Wales Borderers at the age of 18, but in 1903 he resigned from the British Army and undertook an accountancy course. In 1908, he joined the newly formed Territorial Force
, Monmouthshire Regiment. By 1911 he was promoted to the rank of major, and with the outbreak of the First World War, he was posted to France with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel
, commanding the 2nd Battalion of the Monmouthshire Regiment.
Jenkins married Helena Roose, sister of Wales football international Leigh Richmond Roose
. Jenkins' son, C.R. Jenkins played club rugby for several teams, most notably captaining North of Ireland FC
during the 1933/34 season; and like his father, he faced a touring South Africa team in 1931 whilst representing Ulster.
and Newbridge
. By 1901 he was playing for first class Welsh team Newport, and turned out for the senior team over six seasons making 61 appearances. During this period Jenkins spent much of his time in England, and became a regular for Welsh exiles team, London Welsh, and also played for Rosslyn Park and Middlesex County rugby team. In 1905, Jenkins faced his forst international opposition, when he was part of the Middlesex team to face the Original All Blacks at Stamford Bridge
, during the New Zealanders' first overseas tour. Middlesex lost the game heavily, 34-0.
During the 1906/07 season, Jenkins faced the Paul Roos'
touring South Africans on three occasions. In the first encounter, Jenkins was playing for Middlesex County, losing 9-0 to the Springboks at Richmond. On 22 November 1906, Jenkins turned out for Monmouthshire to face Glamorgan
in a Welsh trial for the upcoming international between Wales and South Africa. Four new caps managed to break into the Welsh team, Jenkins, Dick Thomas
of Mountain Ash, John Dyke
of Penarth
and Cardiff's
Johnnie Williams
. At the trial, of the new caps, only Williams impressed, none of the other three players showed great ability, but were 'distinctly superior to any of their uncapped rivals'. On 1 December 1906, Jenkins won his one and only cap when he ran out onto St. Helen's in Swansea to face the Sprinkboks. The South Africans won the match comfortably, with much of the blame for the Welsh loss placed on the forward play. Jenkins and Williams were tagged as having 'failed to scummage'.
Despite the loss, Jenkins was part of the Monmouthshire County team that faced the same touring South Africans on Boxing Day
1906. Jenkins, along with captain George Travers
, was one of only two players with international experience, and the team was further weakened after Newport refused to release their players after an argument over the venue. South Africa out-classed Monmouthshire, winning 17-0, and Jenkins himself gave away the second try after a loose kick.
In 1908, Jenkins was invited by fellow London Welsh team-mate and friend, Arthur Harding
, to join his Anglo-Welsh
team on their 1908 tour of New Zealand and Australia
. Jenkins was forced to turn down Harding's offer due to personal commitments.
Towards the end of his rugby career, Jenkins became much more connected to London Welsh, and in the 1910/11 season was given the club's captaincy. He also played a large role in committee matters, and was Honorary Secretary between 1908 and 1911. In 1911 he was one of three members that wrote the club membership rules, but after returning from active duty in France, Jenkins resigned from the club after discovering that the trustees of the club had sold the freehold to Heathfield Ground on Wandsworth Common
, London Welsh's home ground. Although Jenkins severed all ties between himself and the club from 1919, his record at London Welsh remained impressive, spanning 12 years and 200 games.
1906
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
international rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
forward who played club rugby for Newport and London Welsh. He won just a single cap for Wales
Wales national rugby union team
The Wales national rugby union team represent Wales in international rugby union tournaments. They compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland, Italy and Scotland. Wales have won the Six Nations and its predecessors 24 times outright, second only to England with...
in 1907 but faced both New Zealand and South Africa
South Africa national rugby union team
The South African national rugby union team are 2009 British and Irish Lions Series winners. They are currently ranked as the fourth best team in the IRB World Rankings and were named 2008 World Team of the Year at the prestigious Laureus World Sports Awards.Although South Africa was instrumental...
at county level with Middlesex and Monmouthshire
Monmouthshire County RFC
Monmouthshire County RFC is a Welsh rugby union club that manages an invitational team, known as Monmouthshire that originally played rugby at county level...
.
Personal history
Jenkins was born in Newbridge, Caerphilly in 1880. He was educated at Long Ashton School in Bristol before enrolling at Royal Military College, SandhurstRoyal Military Academy Sandhurst
The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst , commonly known simply as Sandhurst, is a British Army officer initial training centre located in Sandhurst, Berkshire, England...
. He was commissioned into the South Wales Borderers at the age of 18, but in 1903 he resigned from the British Army and undertook an accountancy course. In 1908, he joined the newly formed Territorial Force
Territorial Force
The Territorial Force was the volunteer reserve component of the British Army from 1908 to 1920, when it became the Territorial Army.-Origins:...
, Monmouthshire Regiment. By 1911 he was promoted to the rank of major, and with the outbreak of the First World War, he was posted to France with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
, commanding the 2nd Battalion of the Monmouthshire Regiment.
Jenkins married Helena Roose, sister of Wales football international Leigh Richmond Roose
Leigh Richmond Roose
Leigh Richmond "Dick" Roose, MM, was a Welsh international footballer who kept goal for a number of professional clubs in the Football League between 1901 and 1912. A celebrated amateur at a time when the game was played largely by professionals, Roose was renowned as one of the best players in...
. Jenkins' son, C.R. Jenkins played club rugby for several teams, most notably captaining North of Ireland FC
North of Ireland FC
North of Ireland Football Club is a former Irish rugby union club that was based in Belfast, Northern Ireland. It was the first rugby club formed in what is now Northern Ireland and only two other clubs - Dublin University and Wanderers - were formed earlier anywhere else in all Ireland . It was...
during the 1933/34 season; and like his father, he faced a touring South Africa team in 1931 whilst representing Ulster.
Rugby career
Jenkins first played rugby at Long Ashton School, and would later represent local teams Mountain AshMountain Ash RFC
Mountain Ash RFC is a Welsh rugby union team from the town of Mountain Ash, in the Cynon Valley, South Wales. Mountain Ash RFC is a member of the Welsh Rugby Union and is a feeder club for the Cardiff Blues.-Early history:...
and Newbridge
Newbridge RFC
Newbridge RFC are a Welsh rugby union club based in Newbridge, Caerphilly in South Wales. Newbridge RFC was formed in 1888 and gained admission to the WRU in 1911...
. By 1901 he was playing for first class Welsh team Newport, and turned out for the senior team over six seasons making 61 appearances. During this period Jenkins spent much of his time in England, and became a regular for Welsh exiles team, London Welsh, and also played for Rosslyn Park and Middlesex County rugby team. In 1905, Jenkins faced his forst international opposition, when he was part of the Middlesex team to face the Original All Blacks at Stamford Bridge
Stamford Bridge (stadium)
Stamford Bridge is a football stadium in Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, West London, and is the home of Chelsea Football Club. The stadium is located within the Moore Park Estate also known as Walham Green and is often referred to as simply The Bridge...
, during the New Zealanders' first overseas tour. Middlesex lost the game heavily, 34-0.
During the 1906/07 season, Jenkins faced the Paul Roos'
Paul Roos (rugby player)
Paul Johannes Roos was one of the first South African Springbok rugby union captains and led the first South African rugby team to tour overseas – to Britain in 1906...
touring South Africans on three occasions. In the first encounter, Jenkins was playing for Middlesex County, losing 9-0 to the Springboks at Richmond. On 22 November 1906, Jenkins turned out for Monmouthshire to face Glamorgan
Glamorgan County RFC
Glamorgan County RFC is a Welsh rugby union club that manages an invitational team, known as Glamorgan that originally played rugby at county level...
in a Welsh trial for the upcoming international between Wales and South Africa. Four new caps managed to break into the Welsh team, Jenkins, Dick Thomas
Dick Thomas
Edward John Richard 'Dick' Thomas was a Welsh international rugby union back who played club rugby for Mountain Ash.-Rugby career:...
of Mountain Ash, John Dyke
John Dyke (rugby player)
John Charles Meredith Dyke is a former international rugby union fullback. Dyke made his debut for Wales on 1 December 1906 versus South Africa and was selected for the 1908 British Lions tour to New Zealand and Australia...
of Penarth
Penarth RFC
Penarth Rugby Football Club is a Welsh rugby union club based since 1924 at The Athletic Field, Lavernock Road, in Penarth, in the Vale of Glamorgan in Wales.-Origins and early history:...
and Cardiff's
Cardiff RFC
Cardiff Rugby Football Club is a rugby union football club based in Cardiff, the capital city of Wales. The club was founded in 1876 and played their first few matches at Sophia Gardens, but soon relocated to Cardiff Arms Park where they have been based ever since...
Johnnie Williams
Johnnie Williams
Johnnie Williams was a Welsh international wing who played club rugby for Cardiff Rugby Club. A three times Triple Crown winner, out of seventeen appearances for Wales he was on the losing side only twice....
. At the trial, of the new caps, only Williams impressed, none of the other three players showed great ability, but were 'distinctly superior to any of their uncapped rivals'. On 1 December 1906, Jenkins won his one and only cap when he ran out onto St. Helen's in Swansea to face the Sprinkboks. The South Africans won the match comfortably, with much of the blame for the Welsh loss placed on the forward play. Jenkins and Williams were tagged as having 'failed to scummage'.
Despite the loss, Jenkins was part of the Monmouthshire County team that faced the same touring South Africans on Boxing Day
Boxing Day
Boxing Day is a bank or public holiday that occurs on 26 December, or the first or second weekday after Christmas Day, depending on national or regional laws. It is observed in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and some other Commonwealth nations. In Ireland, it is recognized as...
1906. Jenkins, along with captain George Travers
George Travers
James Edward Travers , known as George Travers, was an English professional footballer who played as an inside forward or centre forward...
, was one of only two players with international experience, and the team was further weakened after Newport refused to release their players after an argument over the venue. South Africa out-classed Monmouthshire, winning 17-0, and Jenkins himself gave away the second try after a loose kick.
In 1908, Jenkins was invited by fellow London Welsh team-mate and friend, Arthur Harding
Arthur Harding
Arthur Flowers Harding was an English-born international rugby union player who played for and captained the Wales national team. Often called 'Boxer' Harding, he was a member of the winning Wales team who beat the 1905 touring All Blacks in a game considered one of the greatest in the history of...
, to join his Anglo-Welsh
British and Irish Lions
The British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales...
team on their 1908 tour of New Zealand and Australia
1908 British Lions tour to New Zealand and Australia
The 1908 British Isles tour to New Zealand and Australia was the seventh tour by a British Isles team and the fourth to New Zealand and Australia. The tour is often referred to as the Anglo-Welsh Tour as only English and Welsh players were selected due to the Irish and Scottish Rugby Unions not...
. Jenkins was forced to turn down Harding's offer due to personal commitments.
Towards the end of his rugby career, Jenkins became much more connected to London Welsh, and in the 1910/11 season was given the club's captaincy. He also played a large role in committee matters, and was Honorary Secretary between 1908 and 1911. In 1911 he was one of three members that wrote the club membership rules, but after returning from active duty in France, Jenkins resigned from the club after discovering that the trustees of the club had sold the freehold to Heathfield Ground on Wandsworth Common
Wandsworth Common
Wandsworth common is a public common in Wandsworth, south London. It is close to Clapham Common and Wandsworth Common railway station. It is wholly in the London borough of Wandsworth...
, London Welsh's home ground. Although Jenkins severed all ties between himself and the club from 1919, his record at London Welsh remained impressive, spanning 12 years and 200 games.
International matches played
Wales South AfricaSouth Africa national rugby union team
The South African national rugby union team are 2009 British and Irish Lions Series winners. They are currently ranked as the fourth best team in the IRB World Rankings and were named 2008 World Team of the Year at the prestigious Laureus World Sports Awards.Although South Africa was instrumental...
1906