Gareth Jenkins

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   Today, was such a lovely  day, the wife and I went for a walk to the beach and returned,  via sandy water park. Quite by chance I bumped in  to Gareth Jenkins.Gareth was my dad's captain at Llanelli  Youth, when he was coach. Even then, Gareth was totally inspirational. Enthusiasm, commitment,  dedication,  loyalty,  poured out if Gareth, and it was obvious that he would  make a big impression on the rugby, stage.
He was unlucky that such a good player as John Taylor was also playing  at that time,  but also suffered really  badly with knee injuries.
I imagine today  Gareth would have won 100 caps.
Following that, he becamec a student of the game, and coaching was the ideal vehicle for his talent. 
His passion,  insight, and great partnership  with Alan Lewis, led to unparalleled  success  for Llanelli. 
This was a " golden period " for us before the game went professional,  creating  a huge  disadvantage  for an economic backwater tucked away in west wales.
Gareth' s lifetime of experience , is luckily still used by the Scarlets,  and that can only be a good thing.

Gareth , would never  mention this, and is,always diplomatic  and tight-lipped about his appalling treatment  by the WRU top brass.
In another thread, (Wales Fiji), I mentioned the way the players totally  ignored Gareths planning and structure to tie Fiji down in the nightmare  2007 game. 
I mentioned this to Gareth and he did concede this was the case.
This was a team led by Gareth Thomas, the same guy, who (with others)allegedly,  was behind Rudocks departure. (Remember the infamous Scrum V debacle,  Eddie Butler v Thomas" bane your sources")
This then led to Gareth Jenkins sacking, and utter humiliation .

The WRU  did'nt have the decency  come home , and follow a review process. Gareth was sacked in a car park  ,then eventually when they did get back he had to get off the coach before it got to the Vale resort , so Gareth would not have to face the press, gathering there in hordes. 
Who are the two  2 figures central to this machiavellian plot..none other than Roger Lewis and David Pickering .
You would not find a more slimy snake in the Amazon or Congo than Lewis, and as for Pickering,  he makes Judas Iscariot look like your best mate ! A smile from Pickering,  meant the knife would follow in the back...and thatscwhat happened.
Gareth is a very honest guy, who wears his heart on his sleeve, but probably  was inexperienced  dealing with WRU political operators like Lewis, who would not have out of place in the  murky world Borgias, or Medicis.
Its clear now what a shambles tye WRU was , run by sexist small men in blazers. 
Thankfully it took a scandal to reveal the depth of the shame.
Now , it will take years to right the wrongs.

Whatever  has happened,  cannot dim my sheer pride and admiration  for Gareth.
Here was a lad, like myself from relatively  humble upbringing. Both went to a secondary  school, Gareth  to Stebonheath, and myself ,to Coleshill.Even though expectations  were low there,I was immensely proud of the education  I received .
Gareth went to work in the steelworks,  and I went to Art College,  with no real thought of a future.

Latter in life, I looked at Gareth , who was articulate, commanding insightful, and inspirational, when I too had make a succes a career in teaching,  proving that what disadvantages are put in front of you, if you want to make it there's a chance.

On Saturday, it will be a monumental day at Parc Y Scarlets, when we honour the  greatest Scarlet player I have seen in my life time,  in Phil Bennett.  There will be a tear in my eye for sure, maybe even more than the day of the funeral.It should ge a great occasion, a celebration  of everything  Benny held dear, attacking skills positivity,  and sheer joy!

If however Benny was the greatest player I have seen on Scarlet soil, 
who then for me has had the greatest impact on Llanelli  rugby in my life.Carwyn, naturally comes to mind, then we have had some wonderful   figures off the field laying the cornerstones of success  so we can achieve on the field. 
My search though , comes back to Gareth Jenkins.
A talented player, fearless, and tenacious,  never shirking the less glamorous  areas of the game, often unseen.
It is almost criminal that he was'nt capped many many times.
As a coach, he was the most successful  in our history leading to Wales and lions roles.
Now in an advisory  capacity he is STILL working  so we as Scarlets, remain in a position to compete. 
If there was ever a " Mr Llanelli" , with the words tattooed like a stick of rock right through, it would be him"

I will leave you with one image that summed up Gareth Jenkins
Think back to 2019, when Llanelli RFC,  had to play Pontypool,  in a shoot out at Port Talbot Athletic ground to survive in the premiership 
I went there, more nervous  than I can ever remember,  full of trepidation. The place was rocking with Poola fans outnumbering us, 
 10 to1.
If we lost,  we faced the humiliation  of relegation  from the premiership, ironically,  a league we have stepped  down from voluntarily
Fortunately,  we won that day, and the relief was massive. 
Standing outside the changing rooms, was Gareth Jenkins, the
emotion etched on his face. The elation of  avoiding  such indignity,  for the first time in our history,  was massive, and the elation, and relief was palpable. Its clear,  it meant that much to Gareth( like it did for many  others)... and in a moment, it summed him up and his commitment  to Llanelli  rugby, and a lifetime of service.

Gareth we lucky to have had you as a leading light,  and furthermore,  as with Benny, your qualities as a genuine,  generous human being , transcends all other things even sport. 
I THANK YOU
all other things 