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'Part of me will always wonder what could have been': Ellis Jenkins
Former Wales captain Ellis Jenkins has said that he “will always wonder what could have been” if he had not suffered his career-threatening knee injury in 2018, after announcing his retirement on Monday.
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The 30-year-old confirmed through his club Cardiff that his season will be his last in professional rugby.
The ACL injury suffered against South Africa in 2018 was a contributing factor to this decision, as Jenkins told the Cardiff website that his “knee still requires a lot of management,” and that he is no longer able to train how he likes.
The injury in a man of the match performance against the Springboks kept Jenkins out of action for more than two years, and though he did return to captain Wales in 2021, it curtailed a career that was tipped for greatness. A return of only 15 caps is not reflective of the potential the flanker had.
Jenkins took to social media shortly after his retirement was announced, where he said that his comeback from the knee injury is something he will be proud of, but he is in the same position as much of the Welsh fandom in wondering what could have been.
It been fun 🫡 1/2 pic.twitter.com/itWRNeZpbw
— Ellis Jenkins (@EllisJenkins_) April 22, 2024
“I feel incredibly lucky to have been able to play rugby for a living for the past 13 years but I have decided that this season will be my last,” he wrote.
“To represent Cardiff Rugby from the Blues academy days until this final season has been an honour. Cardiff Arms Park is a special place with incredible supporters and a huge amount of history. My last home games on Saturday will be emotional and running out to a packed Arms Park is something I will really miss.
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“I also loved having the opportunity to represent Pontypridd RFC after growing up watching Ponty and the Celtic Warriors at Sardis Road.
“Playing for Wales is something I imagined as a kid while I practiced my goal kicking for hours and hours after training for Llanttwit Fardre. Although I never got to kick the winning penalty in a World Cup final as planned, to represent Wales was a dream come true. To do so multiple times as captain is something not many people get to do and will always be something I am extremely proud of.
“I’ve met some amazing people throughout my career who will be friends for life, and I would like to thank everyone who has supported me along the way. I’ve learned so much from so many people and you’ve made me a better player and a better person.
“A special mention goes to my parents. From driving me to academy training before school and to different sports every day after school, to travelling all over the world to watch me play for Cardiff and Wales, I can’t thank you enough.
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“Also to my wife, Sophie, thank you for always thinking I was the best player on the pitch, regardless of how I’d played, and for supporting me through the highs and lows throughout the years. Thank you especially for your support and encouragement when things weren’t going my way during rehab and I was ready to give up.
“Part of me will always wonder what could have been if I hadn’t got injured in 2018, but fighting back to play for Wales and the Principality Stadium again after over two years out is also something I look back on with pride.
“I always thought this would be a tough decision but in truth it isn’t. I guess when you know you now. I am excited to start the next chapter of my life with my young family and with the same commitment and enthusiasm that has served me well throughout my rugby career. I’m also looking forward to standing on the terraces and supporting the boys with a pint in my hand.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Ben Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
19 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
7 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
19 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
9 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
9 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
26 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
19 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
26 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
19 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
86 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
3 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
9 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
19 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
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