Albert Jenkins (rugby union)
| Birth name | Albert Edward Jenkins | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | 11 March 1895 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Llanelli, Wales | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of death | 7 October 1953 (aged 58) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of death | Llanelli, Wales | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (175 cm) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 12 st 8 lb (176 lb; 80 kg) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Lakefield Primary Llanelli | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Albert Jenkins (11 March 1895 – 7 October 1953) was an international rugby player for Wales and played club rugby for Llanelli RFC between 1919 and 1928. Jenkins was one of the greatest backs to have played for Llanelli and is compared to later Scarlet heroes Lewis Jones and Phil Bennett. Jenkins was a strong tackler and was an extremely fast runner from a standing start. He was also an excellent kicker with either foot and could punt the ball half the length of the pitch. He was sometimes criticised for his decision making on the field, and wasn't at his best away from Stradey Park.
In the book Stradey Stories, author Alun Wyn Bevan comments, "such was his drawing power that if by some quirk of fate, Albert could not take to the field because of injury or work commitment (he was a steelworker), the fans would leave the stadium in droves and not bother to watch the ensuing match."
Jenkins is seen as one of Llanelli's greatest players but he was at his peak when Welsh rugby was at one of its worst points in its history.