Wales captain Dafydd Jenkins has confirmed that he will miss the Autumn Nations after undergoing knee and shoulder surgery following Wales’ summer tour of Australia.
Speaking to the media, Jenkins said: “Unfortunately I’m missing the autumn but I’ll definitely be up and running by the Six Nations”, adding that the time off has been “horrible”. “
“It’s probably the first time I’ve had such a long time off.
“Especially seeing the boys’ results not going their way with Exeter, it’s hard because you feel you can add something to that team and hopefully get us over the line. It’s definitely harder mentally more than physically.”
Physically, Jenkins has actually used the time off to his advantage, taking his gym routine to the next level, putting on some serious weight to give him an advantage in the tackle area and scrum.
“It’s given me time to gym a lot more than I would have. I’m looking to put a few extra kgs of muscle on. Not running yet, but when I get to that running block, I’m going to push myself and be hitting personal bests.
“I’m looking to get around to 124kgs. I was probably struggling to keep on 121, so a good three or four kgs. It’s easy to say that now, but it’s putting all the hard work in.
“If you ask any of the boys in camp, I’ll be there eating for hours and don’t put on any weight. Ryan Elias took me under his wing because he struggled as well. He taught me the ropes.”
It’s not just been the physical aspect of his game that the 21-year-old is looking to improve upon, however.
“It’s given me time to reflect on things I’ve probably not achieved”, he explained.
“I’ve never been more motivated to get back on the pitch and put it right. The break has definitely made me more hungry than I’ve ever been.
Noting Henry Slade as “one of the smartest rugby players” he knows, Jenkins has been picking his brains, stating: “hopefully it will make me a smarter player.”
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