Billy Jenkins (rugby player)

William Joseph "Billy" Jenkins (18 May 1885 - 23 December 1956) was a Welsh international forward who played club rugby for Swansea. He won four caps for Wales ending on the losing side just once.

Jenkins was born in Cardiff in 1885. His younger brother Eddie became a football player of note in the association game winning a single cap for Wales in 1925. Outside of rugby Jenkins worked in the building trade.

Jenkins joined Cardiff in the 1909-10 season, but it wasn't until 1912 that he was selected to play for Wales. He turned out on 9 March 1912 against Ireland at the Balmoral Showgrounds, in a match Wales lost 12-5. Two weeks later he played his second game for Wales, this time at Rodney Parade against France. Although Wales won the game, eight members of the Welsh team played their last Five Nations Championship game. Jenkins was one of the seven players to survive this cull and he was chosen to play in two matches the next season in the 1913 Five Nations Championship.

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.

International matches played

Wales

•  France 1912
•  Ireland 1912, 1913
•  Scotland 1913