WALES head coach Wayne Pivac has announced Gethin Jenkins will join his backroom team as technical coach – breakdown/defence, replacing Sam Warburton.

Jenkins is one of Wales’ most decorated former players who amassed 129 caps for his country, winning four Six Nations championships, including three Grand Slams and toured with the British & Irish Lions on three occasions.

Since retiring from the game in 2018, Jenkins moved into coaching, taking up roles with Cardiff Blues and Cardiff RFC.

He has worked with both the age-grade and senior sides at the Blues and more recently was defence coach for Wales U20. He will now link with the national squad as part of Pivac’s coaching team on a full-time basis.

Warburton began his role with Wales last November, working on a campaign by campaign basis and has decided he needs to spend more time on his other commitments away from coaching. Jenkins will begin his role at the start of the autumn campaign, working alongside Warburton for a short hand-over period.

Pivac said: “I’m delighted to be welcoming Gethin into the coaching team, he has vast experience of the international game and is hugely respected. Since retiring he has built a great reputation as a coach and has worked across different levels and age-grades of the game, most recently working alongside Wales’ U20 side.

“Gethin will be a great addition to the coaching team and will compliment Byron extremely well in their respective roles and I’m looking forward to working with him.

“I’d like to thank Sam for his hard work over the last year and what he has given to the team and to Wales. I would like to thank him for his honesty regarding his future and the need to spend more time on other projects away from the game and wish him all the best in that.”