Not only would the 25-year-old be competing for his country in a World Cup – uniquely, held at a picturesque baseball stadium – but he had finally received his undergraduate degree, six years after starting it. A BSc (Hons) in Sports and PE never felt so good. If that wasn’t enough, today is also his 25th birthday.
“Some people probably thought I was never going to get it done,” he laughs. “I went to Cardiff Met straight from school and completed my first two years, but then rugby took over and it fell by the wayside.” He soon saw the light, and finished his final year over the course of the past two years.
“Becoming a teacher does appeal to me,” says Jenkins. “I would consider doing a PGCE a couple of years down the line.” A teaching candidate with World Cup experience on his CV? Get him a whistle and clipboard already.
At the graduation ceremony, he bumped into his former Cardiff Blues teammate Sam Warburton, who was receiving an honorary degree. Warburton was surprised to learn that Jenkins wasn’t attending as a mere guest. “It’s such a shame that Sam’s had to retire, but the fact that he’s achieved so much in his career before the age of thirty is phenomenal.”
On their day off this week, the Wales Sevens squad embarked on a boat tour of San Francisco’s iconic Bay Area, taking in the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz. They also took a drive down Lombard Street, famously known as “the crookedest street in the world.”
The sightseeing was a brief break from the main objective, as Wales vie with 15 other challengers to get their hands back on the coveted Melrose Cup following the heady achievement of 2009 in Dubai.
World Rugby is debuting a knock-out format in this tournament, so Zimbabwe at 22:07 BST tonight is truly a must-win match if Wales want to stay on course for the trophy. Jenkins knows what he and his team need to do.
“It’s similar to what we experienced at the Commonwealth Games against Uganda and Sri Lanka. It’s a case of us needing to do a professional job to tee us up for the next game. Zimbabwe are a decent team with dangerous runners, so we’re taking nothing for granted.”
There will be a hint of finality to proceedings this weekend. Captain Adam Thomas – a fellow Ynysybwl boy – will run out for the last time in the Welsh jersey. “It’ll be a bit emotional because we’ve played together for a good few years now. Two boys from the same village playing together for their country doesn’t happen very often. His parents and mine are out here this weekend, so I hope it’s a memorable one.”
Then there’s head coach Gareth Williams, who will take up a new role within the Welsh Rugby Union at the conclusion of the World Cup. Jenkins says: “His influence has been massive on my career. He’s someone who’s invested a lot of trust and time in me; from when he coached me with the development squad, and when we both progressed in the sevens set-up. I’ve really enjoyed working with him.”
If you thought two Welsh internationals was more than enough for one family – dad Garin being one of his country’s most-capped hookers – the Jenkinses might soon be adding another. Lowri, Owen’s sister, was called up to the Wales netball squad at the end of June.
“She’s had a couple of disappointments with selection over the last couple of years, so I’m really proud of her for sticking at it,” says Jenkins.
“She’s graduating from UWE next week, so that’s something we’ll have both achieved this summer – she started three years after me, mind!”
Wales Sevens: Luke Treharne, Ethan Davies, Lloyd Williams, Luke Morgan, Owen Jenkins, Tom Williams, Cory Allen, Afon Bagshaw, Adam Thomas, Cai Devine, Jared Rosser, Ben Roach. Travelling Reserve: Will Talbot-Davies.
S4C will be showing highlights on Saturday (19:30), Sunday (19:30) and Monday (18:30).
