Wales international Gethin Jenkins sign contract extension with Cardiff Blues

Wales prop Gethin Jenkins has penned a new deal with Cardiff Blues which will keep him with the Pro12 club until 2018.

Jenkins, who is Cardiff Blues' current captain, joined the club in 2004 and has spent 11 years with them spread across two phases. He was also part of the Amlin Challenge Cup winning Cardiff Blues team in 2010 and has made over 150 appearances for them.

In 2012, the 35-year-old joined French club Toulon for a one-year stint and enjoyed Heineken Cup triumph with them making him only the second Wales player to win both European Cups.

Jenkins is also the most capped player for Wales after playing 126 Tests and has represented British and Irish Lions in 2005 and 2009.

"I am really pleased to have signed an extension with Cardiff Blues," he told cardiffblues.com.

"Having spent 11 years of my career here, it was an easy decision to make.

"I'm very optimistic about the future. We are building in the right direction, making progress, and I am looking forward to playing my part in that."

Meanwhile, Cardiff Blues head coach Danny Wilson was full of praise for Jenkins' contribution to the club

"Gethin has been a stand-out loosehead prop for more than a decade and has been an unbelievable servant to Cardiff Blues.

"He is a fantastic professional, which has prolonged his career, and has been an instrumental leader for us in driving standards both on and off the pitch.

"Gethin still has a big future at Cardiff Blues, and he proved during the Wales summer tour of New Zealand that he is still one of the best international looseheads out there.

"With Gethin, Rhys Gill and a number of youngsters, we have great depth in the position, and that is exactly what we need throughout the squad."