Leaving Toulon: Gethin Jenkins
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Cardiff Blues have confirmed that Wales and Lions prop forward, Gethin Jenkins, will rejoin the region for the 2013/14 season.
Jenkins left the region at the end of last season to join RC Toulon in the south of France, where he has struggled to secure a regular starting berth in a star-studded team.
The double British and Irish Lions prop first joined Cardiff Blues in 2004 and will link up with fellow Lion, hooker Matthew Rees, who has also signed for the capital region.
"I am really pleased to have re-signed Gethin," said Cardiff Blues Director of Rugby Phil Davies.
"We started the year knowing we had a young squad and it has been a massive season of progression, sometimes the results have not gone our way.
"Gethin will be coming back to an environment that is a little different from the one he left and I think, hopefully, he will enjoy it and I know that he will add a massive amount to the group.
"I have heard how professional he is and I am really looking forward to working with him and welcoming him back to the Blues.
"Gethin's experience will add to the team, he is very vocal on the pitch and I am sure that a lot of the youngsters will also be very vocal with him as well next year.
"The experience of Gethin, Matthew Rees along with the likes of Gavin Evans and Dafydd Hewitt who are really experienced players will help.
"Hopefully with the youthful exuberance of the young players combined with the experienced players will be an excellent mix for us next year.
"Gethin is an international player, a Lion and a quality player.
"I am delighted that he has come back, it is a fantastic signing for us.
"It is great to be able to bring a senior Wales player back.
"It was not an easy signing at times but to be fair to Richard Holland and Peter Thomas, they both worked exceptionally hard at it.
"I was keen for it to happen and to be fair they have done that, so credit to them.
Having started his rugby career at Beddau RFC, Jenkins moved on to Pontypridd and then Celtic Warriors making his Wales debut against Romania in Wrexham in 2003.
Gethin played in all 10 Grand Slam games in 2005 and 2008 and also featured in every game of the 2003 and 2007 World Cups. A versatile prop who can play on either side of the scrum, Jenkins became a national hero in Wales when his charge down try against Ireland at the Millennium Stadium in 2005 secured the Grand Slam for Wales for the first time for over 20 years.
Comments
jontheref says...
I don't believe he justifys his Welsh palce, James should be there.
But, I bet Gatland will take him.
Wrong, but I'd put money on it.
Posted 15:14 22nd February 2013
timmo says...
welsh hype and evidently can't cut it with the big boys
Posted 14:32 22nd February 2013
heathy says...
Back with his tail between his legs as he has failed to cut it outside his home town. Very disappointing for Jenkins who is at present a shadow of his former self. Never the best of scrummager¿s but very very good around the park and Wales have certainly missed his form. Yes, he's playing for Wales as there isn't anybody else that is pushing too hard but he is nowhere near his best. That's more an indictment for Welsh props than anything else. In fairness Adam Jones isn't playing that well either. Not sure about his chances for a Lions place even though normally he would be a shoe-in. Cian Healy is way ahead and so is Joe Marler and that is before we look at Andrew Sheridan (who has kept him out of the Toulon team) and is in great form. Shame he is in France or he would be with England creating havoc in the scrums. Then we move onto Mako Vunipola and the list starts to stretch away from Jenkins. He needs to find form (as well as coming back to mummy) and very quickly.
Posted 10:47 22nd February 2013
melkdave says...
WOW i have to say thats unexpected,who would have thought G.Jenkins wouldnt cut it in France.Gone from one of the best props in the game by reputation to a nothing in one season.Definatly not touring with the Lions given his form this season,his been just awful in the scrum and loose.He has alot to do to repair his reputation imo.
Posted 09:49 22nd February 2013