| Born | Vivian Gordon James Jenkins[1] 2 November 1911 Port Talbot, Wales | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Died | 5 January 2004(2004-01-05) (aged 92) Harpenden, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 6 ft (1.83 m) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 13 st 7 lb (86 kg) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Llandovery College | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| University | Jesus College, Oxford | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Occupation | Journalist | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Vivian Gordon James "Viv" Jenkins (2 November 1911 – 5 January 2004) was a Welshrugby union player who, having taught Classics and Games atDover College, went on to have a successful career as a sports journalist. He won 14 caps forWales and 1 cap for theBritish and Irish Lions. He also playedfirst-class cricket withGlamorgan andOxford University.
Jenkins was born inPort Talbot but grew up nearBridgend. He attendedLlandovery College inCarmarthenshire and laterJesus College, Oxford.[2]
Jenkins played rugby for Jesus College and represented the school's side atTwickenham on three occasions. In 1932, he was offered a chance to play for his home clubBridgend RFC in a tie againstNewport RFC. His performances for Bridgend led to him receiving a call up to theWales national rugby union team within a month to play againstEngland on 21 January 1933.[2] Wales won the match 7–3, the first time the side had won at Twickenham for 23 years.[1]
The following year, Jenkins missed the opening match of the1934 Home Nations Championship against England. He rejoined the side ahead of its victory overScotland, in which he kicked two conversions, and became the first Welsh full back to score a try in an international fixture when he scored ran in a try against Ireland in the final match. In 1935, Jenkins and teammateWilf Wooller inspired Wales to victory overNew Zealand.[1]
Jenkins was part of the1938 British Lions tour to South Africa where he was named vice-captain toSam Walker. Although disrupted by injury, he was the team's second-highest scorer with 50 points during the tour. He won his final cap for Wales the following year, in a 3–0 defeat to England.[1]
Jenkins married Susan Fraser in 1940 and the couple had one son together. His wife died in 1984.[1] After graduating from Jesus College, Jenkins took up a teaching position atDover College alongside his sporting career.[1]
At the start of the Second World War, Jenkins joined theTerritorial Army and served in the anti-aircraft command where he reached the rank of captain.[1] After the war ended, Jenkins became a rugby reporter for theNews of the World and laterThe Sunday Times.[3] He served as the editor ofRothmans Rugby Yearbook for 11 years and wrote several books on the sport.[1]