Wales star primed for PREM Rugby return as coach admits to ‘trying to hold him back’
Dafydd Jenkins (left) is set to return to the pitch this weekend
Exeter Chiefs captain Dafydd Jenkins is set to return to the field this weekend when his side kicks off their PREM campaign against Gloucester.
The 23-year-old lock underwent shoulder surgery in the off-season and missed Wales’ Nations Championship tour in July. He has also not featured in any of Exeter’s pre-season friendlies against Scarlets or Cardiff, and missed their PREM Rugby Cup victory over Bristol Bears as well.
Jenkins’ return will come as a major boost for the Chiefs ahead of their league opener at Sandy Park, with fellow locks Andrea Zambonin and Lewis Pearson both currently on the sidelines.
Dafydd Jenkins primed for injury return
“Yes, yes; 100% (he’s available),” Chiefs director of rugby, Rob Baxter, said when quizzed on whether Jenkins was up for selection.
“We’ve had to hold him back for a couple of weeks. Trying to force him into a red bib and say ‘don’t take too much contact’ is pretty tough! He just wants to get on with things ahead of schedule, probably more than anybody else.
“He’s been raring to go for a while, and he’s fully in it now. He’s right up there ready to go.
“We’ve been trying to hold him back for a couple of weeks, but he’s been having a fairly full part in training outside of full contact for around two or three weeks now. Knowing Daf and how he is, I’d be surprised if he’s not up to speed very quickly.”
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This update from Baxter also comes after Jenkins himself outlined his hopes of a full season, for both club and country, after undergoing a second shoulder operation in three years.
“It’s good and on track,” the towering forward told reporters. “I’ve done the other shoulder before, but I was also rehabbing my knee at the same time, so it’s a lot easier. But I’m excited to be back training with the boys and flying into the new season.”
Exeter will also be able to call on fellow leader Jack Yeandle once again, with the experienced hooker overcoming a knock that saw him miss their pre-season trip to the Welsh capital last weekend.
“He just came out of the scrum session with a bit of thoracic tightness,” said Baxter. “We looked at it and then he was still feeling it a little bit by the end of the week, so we thought we’d just pull him.
“Interestingly, by the morning of the game he was feeling very good, but we still feel like we did the right thing. There’s been no repercussions; he’s been in full training this week.”
Elsewhere, the Chiefs will also have Max Norey back in the mix this weekend, with the hooker overcoming an injury that saw him come off just eight minutes into the PREM final defeat to Northampton Saints.
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