3 weeks ago
Cardiff and Wales flanker Ellis Jenkins will discontinue astatine nan extremity of nan season.
Jenkins, who will move 31 adjacent week, has played 147 times for Cardiff and made 15 appearances for Wales.
Cardiff opportunity Jenkins made nan determination to "prioritise life aft rugby" aft battling backmost from a adjacent career-ending knee wounded suffered playing for Wales successful 2018, which still "requires continued management".
"I told Jockey (Cardiff caput coach Matt Sherratt) astatine nan commencement of nan play this would beryllium my past 1 aft 13 years," said Jenkins.
"It feels for illustration nan correct time.
"There person been batch of highs and lows done my profession and my knee still requires a batch of management, peculiarly if I'm playing week in, week out.
"I americium nary longer capable to train nan measurement I would like, which is frustrating."
After coming done nan Cardiff system, Jenkins played a cardinal domiciled arsenic Wales became nan first squad to hit New Zealand astatine Under-20 level successful 2012 and led nan broadside to a second-placed decorativeness a twelvemonth later.
His crowning Cardiff infinitesimal came successful Bilbao arsenic he led Cardiff to a 2nd European Challenge Cup title.
Jenkins captained nan elder Wales broadside connected nan 2018 summertime circuit against South Africa and Argentina.
His profession was derailed aft helping Wales to triumph against nan Springboks pinch a man-of-the-match capacity astatine nan Principality Stadium, but he suffered a important ACL knee wounded successful nan last moments.
Jenkins was ruled retired of action for 26 months but displayed singular resilience to return to action, adding 43 nine appearances and a further 4 Test caps to his name.
This included a Wales comeback against South Africa successful 2021 and captaining his state again, this clip against Fiji.
His past Wales quality came successful nan 2022 Six Nations conclusion by Ireland successful Dublin.
"It's been reliable physically and mentally but I'm enormously proud of everything I person achieved successful my career," said Jenkins.
"Particularly coming backmost from specified a large wounded to play for Cardiff and Wales again."
Jenkins is contented pinch his decision.
"The highs are things for illustration Bilbao, derbies and European occasions astatine nan Arms Park, winning my first headdress and captaining Wales, but besides experiences, recreation and friendships rugby has fixed me," said Jenkins.
"I person been fortunate and americium grateful to everyone who has supported maine connected my journey.
"I americium looking guardant to enjoying rugby from nan terrace pinch a beer, doing each nan things I could not do arsenic a subordinate and starring a fresh and progressive life pinch my young family."
The United Rugby Championship (URC) lucifer against Edinburgh connected Saturday day will beryllium his past lucifer astatine nan Arms Park, though location are 3 much convention games scheduled this season.
"To person nan chance to tally retired astatine Cardiff Arms Park 1 much clip is thing that will mean a immense amount," said Jenkins.
Sherratt hopes nan crowd will travel retired and support Jenkins.
"It's ever a sad infinitesimal erstwhile a subordinate retires, peculiarly 1 of Ellis' calibre and stature successful nan game, but he tin beryllium proud of everything he has achieved some successful a Cardiff and Wales jersey," said Sherratt.
"Not only does he person a superb knowing of nan game, he is simply a awesome professional, domiciled exemplary and leader who has been a cardinal fig passim my clip astatine nan club.
"The wounded he suffered playing for Wales successful 2018, was a large infinitesimal successful his profession erstwhile he was astatine nan highest of his powers.
"To travel backmost from that wounded tells you everything you request to cognize astir his determination."
