Jenkins to miss start of the season

Exeter Chiefs have been dealt a major blow ahead of the new 2024/25 season with the news that Dafydd Jenkins has had to undergo surgery on both his knee and shoulder.

The Welsh international with join club-mate Henry Slade in sitting out the opening weeks of the new campaign.

Like Jenkins, England international Slade has also had to have surgery on his shoulder, meaning Director of Rugby, Rob Baxter, will be without two of his more experienced stars.

“It’s tough and frustrating for Dafydd, but he’s had surgery on a knee issue sustained on the summer tour with Wales, then he’s had a sore rotator cuff type of injury as well,” explained Baxter.

“For me personally, I think it’s the right time for him. He’s a young man who has played a lot of rugby for both the Chiefs and Wales, so it’s important that he gets them sorted properly now so that he has that extended period of rehab to get himself back fit and ready for what everyone knows is going to be a very good career.

“Obviously, timescales are a little bit fluid at the moment. We’ve got to see in the early initial period of his rehab where he’ll get to, but one thing we know – from every other injury he’s had – is that Dafydd is an incredibly hard worker and rehabber, and if anybody can accelerate the process of getting back from these operations, then we’re sure Dafydd will.”

‍