Ernie Jenkins

Ernie Jenkins

Jenkins in Newport jersey
Full name	Ernest Jenkins Jenkins[1]
Date of birth	(1880-09-20)20 September 1880
Place of birth	Upper Cwmbran, Wales
Date of death	18 July 1958(1958-07-18) (aged 77)
Place of death	Newport, Wales
Occupation(s)	dock worker
Rugby league career
Position	Forward
Professional clubs
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
1910-?	Rochdale Hornets
National teams
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
1910-1912	Wales	4	(0)
Rugby union career
Playing career
Position	Flanker
Amateur clubs
Years	Club / team
? 1905-1910	Pontnewydd RFC Newport RFC
National team(s)
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
1910	Wales[2]	2	(0)

Ernie Jenkins (20 September 1880 – 18 July 1958)^[3] was a Welsh international dual-code international rugby player. He played club rugby union predominantly for Newport and later switched codes by joining rugby league team Rochdale Hornets. While playing for Newport, Jenkins faced the three major Southern Hemisphere teams, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand.

International career

Jenkins made his debut for Wales against Scotland at the Cardiff Arms Park on 5 February 1910 as part of the Five Nations Championship. It was a one-sided affair with Wales scoring 4 tries without reply, including one from fellow new cap Billy Spiller. Jenkins was reselected for the next match in the tournament, this time against Ireland. Wales won again, this time scoring five tries, the highest number scored by Wales in Ireland. With two wins out of two games, Jenkins should have been part of future Welsh teams, but turned professional in September 1910, joining rugby league team Rochdale Hornets, making him ineligible to play union in future.

His first game for the Hornets took place on 17 September 1910, and on 10 December he was selected for his first rugby league international when he was chosen to represent Wales against England at Coventry. He played a total of four league international between 1910 and 1912, three against England and a single encounter against Australia at Ebbw Vale.

International games played

Wales (rugby union)^[4]

•  Ireland 1910
•  Scotland 1910

Wales (rugby league)

•  England 1910, 1911, 1912
•  Australia 1911

Bibliography

• 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. 

References