Emlyn Jenkins (1 December 1910 â October 1993) was a Welsh cinema manager, trainee teacher, landlord of a public house, rugby union, and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1930s and 1940s, and coached rugby league in the 1950s. He played club level rugby union (RU) for Treorchy RFC, and Cardiff RFC, and representative level rugby league (RL) for Great Britain and Wales, and at club level for Salford (two spells), Wigan and St Helens (two spells, including one as a World War II guest), Leigh, as a , or , and coached club level rugby league (RL) for Leigh and St Helens.
At the height of his success, Jenkins was considered a rare genius at rugby league football.
Jenkins made his debut for Salford in December 1930 against Dewsbury.
During Emlyn Jenkins time there was Salford's victories in the Championship in 1932âÂÂ33 season, 1936âÂÂ37 season and 1938âÂÂ39 season, the 1938 Challenge Cup in 1937âÂÂ38 season, the Lancashire Cup in the 1929âÂÂ30 season, 1931âÂÂ32 season, 1934âÂÂ35 season, 1935âÂÂ36 season and 1936âÂÂ37 season, and the Lancashire County League during the 1932âÂÂ33 season, 1933âÂÂ34 season, 1934âÂÂ35 season, 1936âÂÂ37 season and 1938âÂÂ39 season.
Emlyn Jenkins played in Salford's 3âÂÂ15 defeat by Wigan in the Championship Final during the 1933âÂÂ34 season at Wilderspool Stadium, Warrington on Saturday 28 April 1934.
Emlyn Jenkins was one of the players who successfully toured in France with Salford in 1934, during which the Salford team earned the name "Les Diables Rouges", the seventeen players were; Joe Bradbury, Bob Brown, Aubrey Casewell, Paddy Dalton, Bert Day, Cliff Evans, Jack Feetham, George Harris, Barney Hudson, Emlyn Jenkins, Alf Middleton, Sammy Miller, Harold Osbaldestin, Les Pearson, Gus Risman, Billy Watkins and Billy Williams.
About Emlyn Jenkins' time, there was Salford's 10âÂÂ8 victory over Swinton in the 1931 Lancashire Cup Final during the 1931âÂÂ32 season at The Cliff, Broughton, Salford on Saturday 21 November 1931, the 21âÂÂ12 victory over Wigan in the 1934 Lancashire Cup Final during the 1934âÂÂ35 season at Station Road, Swinton on Saturday 20 October 1934, the 15âÂÂ7 victory over Wigan in the 1935 Lancashire Cup Final during the 1935âÂÂ36 season at Wilderspool Stadium, Warrington on Saturday 19 October 1935, the 5âÂÂ2 victory over Wigan in the 1936 Lancashire Cup Final during the 1936âÂÂ37 season at Wilderspool Stadium, Warrington on Saturday 17 October 1936.
Jenkins was signed by Wigan in March 1938 for a fee of ã700. He made his début for the club in the 19âÂÂ3 victory over Newcastle (away) on Saturday 12 March 1938, he scored his first try for Wigan in the 16âÂÂ13 victory over Leeds at Central Park, Wigan on Saturday 19 March 1938, he scored his last try for Wigan in the 12âÂÂ8 victory over Swinton in Round-1 of the Lancashire County Cup at Central Park, Wigan on Saturday 10 September 1938, he played his last match for Wigan in the 19âÂÂ0 victory over Leigh at Mather Lane, Leigh on Saturday 8 October 1938. In mid-November 1938, he announced that he was retiring from the sport at the age of 27, but by the end of the month had signed to play for Keighley. He played as centre in his début for that club against Dewsbury on 5 December 1938.
Emlyn Jenkins played for St. Helens as a guest from Salford during the Wartime Emergency Leagues, and played in St. Helens' 45âÂÂ38 victory over the Rugby League Players' Union in the Testimonial match for St. Helens Albert 'Sonny' Doyle http://www.saints.org.uk/saints/player.php?num=15234 at Knowsley Road, St. Helens on Monday 30 April 1951.
Emlyn Jenkins won 4 caps for Wales in 1932âÂÂ1936 while at Salford, and won caps for Great Britain while at Salford in 1933 against Australia, in 1936 against Australia (3 matches) and New Zealand (2 matches), and in 1937 against Australia (3 matches).