Gareth Jenkins
Wales
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Full name Gareth John James Jenkins
Born September 11, 1951, Llanelly
Current age 72 years 199 days
Major teams Wales XV
Position Flanker
Profile

Jenkins succeeded Mike Ruddock as coach of the Welsh national team in 2006 but was sacked following the side's failure to qualify for the quarter-finals of the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France. His disappointing tenure produced just six wins in 20 Test matches.

He played for Welsh side Llanelli for nine years between 1968-77, making his debut as a 17-year-old, and also represented Wales B and the Barbarians. He toured Japan with Wales in 1975 but was not capped. He did however feature in Llanelli's famous 9-3 victory over New Zealand at Stradey Park in 1973.

After injury curtailed his playing career at the age of 26, he embarked on a notable coaching career with first Llanelli and then the Scarlets that included numerous league and cup successes and a victory over Australia.

He served as an assistant coach for Wales during the 1993-94 season, when Wales won the Five Nations Championship, but his application for the main job in 2004 was rejected with the WRU opting for Ruddock. Jenkins later toured New Zealand with the British & Irish Lions as part of Clive Woodward's coaching team in 2005 before taking charge of Wales in the wake of Ruddock's resignation from the post.

A record 62-5 defeat at the hands of England in the build-up to the 2007 Rugby World Cup increased pressure on Jenkins and a 38-34 defeat to Fiji in their last pool match led to the end of his tenure the following day.

In 2008 he returned to the Scarlets to take up a role as head of regional development and recruitment.

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