Club History - Billy  Jenkins
Club History 8 of 11

8. Club History - Billy Jenkins


William Joseph Jenkins born May 18, 1885, Cardiff – Position: Flanker.

W. J. 'Billy' Jenkins – Captain 1st XV, played for Canton from 1903-09 whereupon he moved with Joe 'Boyo' Brookman to the Blue and Blacks for season 1909-10.

Season 1907-08, the Evening Express reports; "Canton have chosen a splendid player as captain. Billy Jenkins is one of the best. In one 'soft match' last year he opened the scoring by dropping a goal. He was at the time acting as captain. His example was followed by every man in the team endeavouring to emulate Billy's deed. The result was only satisfactory in proving the value of example. Skipper Jenkins now strongly objects to dropping goals."

Billy played 158 times for Cardiff RFC between 1909-1920 and was captain in 1912-13 season. Cardiff Reserves committee stated in Oct 1909 that “ he is short & only weighs 11 stone but is one of those tireless, energetic forwards who are often very useful in a pack.”

“A fine forward who would have played more had not the war intervened." - Cardiff RFC. Billy was selected for Wales and won his first cap against Ireland at Belfast in March 1912. He was capped 4 times in total for Wales, on the losing side just once.

Wales Record:-
9 March 1912 - Lost Wales 5 Ireland 12 at Belfast.
25 March 1912 - Won Wales 14 France 8 at Newport.
1 March 1913 - Won Wales 8 Scotland 0 at Edinburgh.
8 March 1913 - Won Wales 16 Ireland 13 at Swansea.

Jenkins was also selected to play for invitational touring team, the Barbarians. He played twice for the Barbarians, a war-time match against the SA Services in 1915 and later against Neath in 1921.

“Popular man, and member of club committee who was to lend assistance to the Cardiff RFC club in many ways.” - Cardiff RFC

Billy was a Canton lad and continued his long association with Canton RFC in a committee capacity. Died 23/12/1956