Former Wales and Cardiff captain Ellis Jenkins has announced that he will retire from rugby at the end of the season.

The Cardiff flanker has made 146 appearances for the region along with 15 Wales caps but has decided to finish his career when his contract comes to and end this summer.

Speaking exclusively on a special Sportin Wales podcast Jenkins said he’s “known for a while” that this season will be his final one in rugby.

“I told the coaches in pre-season that this was going to be my last season playing rugby,” said Jenkins.

“I’ve just tried to enjoy it as much as I can, and I have. I’ve enjoyed most of it, wish the results had gone a bit better for us but I’m looking forward to the end of the season and the future.

“There are big parts to the game that I’ll miss but I’m excited for the next chapter.”

Jenkins has had some stellar performances this season, including last time out in Ulster and believes his impending departure from the playing side of the game has had a part to play in that.

He is also cherishing the opportunity to say goodbye to the game while he is still able to play, rather than the decision being forced upon him.

“It’s really nice to be able to end on my own terms and if I picked up a bump between now and the end of the season, I’d still feel like it was on my own terms because I’ve made the decision,” said Jenkins.

“I’ve seen so many of my friends not being able to do that and had injuries force them to retire, but I’m very lucky that I get to call it a day when I feel it’s right.”

Jenkins admits he will miss playing but is looking forward to an extended break from the game.

“I’m going to enjoy the summer with my wife [singer Sophie Evans] and my one-year-old,” said Jenkins.

“We’ve got holidays booked, going skiing for the first time in 15 years without worrying about having my contract ripped up!

“We’re very lucky to play rugby for a living and it is a privilege, but it does come with some negatives in terms of your schedule is dictated to you, you have your four weeks off in the summer and that’s it.

“So, to have that freedom to run my own schedule is what I’m looking forward to most.”

Any sportsperson will tell you a career in their field is full of incredible highs and deep lows and Jenkins has had his fair share of both.

He spent 26 months out with a serious knee injury from November 2018 to February 2021, with the injury coming in the final minute of a man of the match display against South Africa, a game which had him being touted as a possible World Cup captain.

But additionally, he captained his region to the European Challenge Cup title, lifting the trophy in 2018.

“You grow up wanting to play for Wales and being able to do that and captain Wales has been amazing,” said Jenkins.

“It sounds a bit cheesy but all the people I’ve met along the way has been the best part. Most of my best mates I’ve met playing rugby, even back to my best mate when I was 11 years old, we started playing rugby together and he was best man at my wedding.

“When it gets to finishing you look back and it’s not really the games you remember but the occasions and the nights out afterwards and all the people you’ve spent time with and the people who’ve had influence over you.”

Jenkins admits he hasn’t decided what will come next in his career but is prepared to take his time in picking his next venture.

“I’ve done my level one and two [in coaching], I’m thinking about doing level three next year but I’m not sure it’s what I want to go into to be honest,” said Jenkins.

“I’ve thought about it a lot and have not come any closer to finding out if it’s what I want to do or not. The coaches all seem quite stressed and I’m not a stressy person so I don’t know if I’d be that well suited to it.

“I’ve been studying the last couple of years so I’ll reassess and after some time out, hopefully something will stand out that I want to get my teeth stuck into and attack it like I did rugby.

“I enjoy the commentary stuff, you get paid to watch the game and have an opinion on it, I like to think I understand the game and have an opinion on how the game should be played and it’s something I’ll try my hand at.

“I don’t want to jump into something and hate it, just doing something to pay the bills, I’d rather make my decision slowly.”

So when might we see Jenkins in a Cardiff shirt for the last time? Cardiff have four games remaining in the season with a home game against Edinburgh, before a double header in South Africa and then finally Judgement Day against Ospreys.

“Out last home game at the Arms Park is on the 27^th of April [against Edinburgh], hopefully I can get selected and have one last run out there,” said Jenkins.

“I’ve had some amazing memories at the Arms Park, the fans have been really good to me, and my family have come down from a young age. I’ve played there from Blues under 16s I think, so to have my last game at the Arms Park and two days before my birthday as well would be a nice weekend.

“A big factor in my decision has been not being able to do the things I used to be able to do in terms of training and prepare myself as well as I can for games, I found that tough to be honest, knowing what my shortcomings are but not being able to put as much work in as I want to rectify it.

“They say when you know you know, and I definitely know.”