Young Chiefs star named in Wales squad

Promising Exeter Chiefs second row Dafydd Jenkins has been named in the Wales squad who will play Australia at OL Stadium, Lyon in their third pool C match of Rugby World Cup 2023 tomorrow (Sunday 24 September KO 8pm BST / 9pm local time live on ITV and S4C).

Former Sandy Park favourite Tomas Francis starts at tighthead prop and Jenkins is the second row cover.

Jenkins (20) made his Chiefs debut during the 2021/22 season against Bristol Bears and within weeks was then featuring for the Chiefs in both the Heineken Champions Cup and Gallagher Premiership.

He is one of a glut of young Welsh youngsters currently plying their trade at Sandy Park, teaming up with the likes of Ollie Burrows, Christ Tshiunza and Dan John, all of whom he has played with in the Welsh Under-20s set-up.

Wales Senior Men’s Head Coach Warren Gatland said: "We’re happy with our position going into this game. We have two wins and ten points. There’s a confidence among this group and we’ve had a good edge to training this week.

“Everyone wants to be involved and there were some disappointed players this week, which is exactly what we want with competition strong across the squad.

“Every game in the World Cup is tough, the stakes are high, and this will be no different. Australia have talented players and we know they will want to come out and put in a performance this weekend.

“Our accuracy was good against Fiji, but it was not at the level we would like against Portugal. We are looking to get better every week. Against Australia we know we have to take our chances and put them under as much pressure as possible.

“If we play the way we know we can and maintain that for 80 minutes, then we know we will be a very hard team to beat.”