The 25-year-old travelled to Belgium with the Ospreys’ this summer and featured off the bench in the big win at Waterloo. He joined the Wizards in 2010 and has made than 180 appearances for the club as a teenager in the summer of 2010.
Having learned his rugby at Coedcae Comprehensive School and Coleg Sir Gar, Jenkins was in the Wales Under 16 squad without winning a cap but playing for Felinfoel and the Scarlets age-grade side before playing for Wales at Under 18 level in 2009. He played in the same Welsh side against England at St Helen’s as future internationals Tom Prydie, George North, Rhodri Jones, Dan Baker and Matthew Morgan.
He will find some other familiar faces at the Ospreys other than Jones and Baker, as lock Lloyd Ashley, centre Ben John and wing Eli Walker were also involved in the Wales Under 18 set-up with him at the time.
Aberavon’s ‘Player of Year’ and ‘Player’s Player of the Year’ in 2015, the 5’ 8” tall, 16 stone Jenkins is taking a career break from his job at Swansea Prison to allow him to pursue the opportunity with the Ospreys.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for me. I’m really looking forward to a new challenge and giving it my best shot. I’m still finding my feet a bit, a little bit nervous, but it’s a chance for me to commit full time to my rugby, work hard and, hopefully, make the step up,” said Jenkins.
“I’ve been talking to Andy Lloyd (Ospreys Recruitment Manager) for a while now and was fortunate to get a call to go to Belgium last month, which I really enjoyed. It was a great experience that gave me a taste of what this is about, but doing it every day, week in, week out is another level again and I know the size of the challenge.
“Aberavon are a great club. They’ve supported me over the last six years, helping me towards this, and I’m thankful for that support.”
Jenkins will join a fantastic pool of front row talent at the Ospreys, who already have Welsh international props in Nicky Smith, Paul James and Rhodri Jones on their books along with the Moldovan star Dmitri Arhip, New Zealander Ma’afu Fia and rising young Welsh players Gareth Thomas and Dan Suter. They also have Scot Baldwin as one of four hooker with Scott Otten, Sam Parry and Hugh Gustafson.
“Rowan has been one of the leading loose heads in the Premiership over the last few years and we’ve been watching his development. That led to him coming to Belgium with us, where we were able to take a closer look at him within our environment,” said Ospreys head coach Steve Tandy.
“He has all the raw ingredients needed to be an Osprey, along with a desire to be the best he can be, and he has earned this opportunity with a remarkable level of consistency for Aberavon. He’ll be with us seven days a week now, in an environment geared to development, which will encourage him to keep working hard towards becoming a fully fledged Osprey.
“His progression gives a positive message to players in the Premiership, that if you work hard, play well and keep developing, you will be noticed. Not everyone will follow the traditional pathway through regional age-grade, but whoever you are, if you are performing at a Premiership club, there is a pathway through to the Ospreys for you.”
Jenkins played in Aberavon’s opening day win over Swalec Cup holder Llandovery at the Talbot Athletic Ground last weekend. Now Wizards’ coach Jason Hyatt will have to get used to picking a side without automatically pencilling in Jenkins as the first name on his teamsheet.
“Rowan has been a stand-out performer in the Principality Premiership for several seasons and has also shown his potential during the previous British & Irish Cup competitions. I am positive he will thrive in a professional environment with the Ospreys and go on to play some great rugby,” said Hyatt.
