Wales Rugby
Jenkins targets 2015 World Cup
ESPNscrum Staff
November 5, 2011
Wales' Gethin Jenkins charges towards the line, Namibia v Wales, Rugby World Cup, Stadium Taranaki, New Plymouth, New Zealand, September 26, 2011
Gethin Jenkins says he still has the hunger for the international game © Getty Images
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Wales prop Gethin Jenkins has revealed his desire to play in the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

Jenkins, who has won 87 caps for his country and played a major part in helping Wales to the semi finals of the World Cup in New Zealand, will be almost 35 when the next tournament starts in England in 2015.

However the Cardiff Blues prop is determined to continue playing for his country and has no plans to cut short his international career.

"In the back of my mind I want to play another World Cup," he told the Western Mail. "That obviously depends on the body, you just don't know how you're going to feel in a couple of years' time.

"But I enjoy playing international rugby and I would be very disappointed to lose that aspect of my life."

Jenkins also revealed that fellow prop Adam Jones, who is also 30, intends to continue playing at the highest level. And Jenkins believes that they can both be integral figures for Wales in coming seasons as well as the British and Irish Lions who tour Australia in 2013.

"It's a great buzz just to go out on the field and play for your country and I want to go on for as long as I can, for as long as I feel I'm doing a job at that level," he said. "Adam Jones is about the same age as me, and I know he will definitely be looking at another World Cup.

"Props in general, they have long careers, and there are more and more examples of people going on for longer at the top. Yet it does depend on the toll the game takes on your body because games these days are so physically intense.

"I don't want to talk it up too much, but my two main targets are to go on another Lions tour and to make another World Cup."

Jenkins came back from an eight-month injury lay-off to play a crucial role in Wales' World Cup campaign and reported back to the Cardiff Blues fit and ready for action. However he admits it will be difficult to return to the routine of RaboDirect Pro12 and Heineken Cup matches after the extreme emotions of reaching the last four in the World Cup.

"Mentally it is tough," he said. "I have spoken to some of the other boys this week and, after a World Cup like we had you don't recover, mentally, straight away.

"Our captain (Sam Warburton) has been in the media saying we have to perform at regional level now and of course he's right, but it isn't easy when you have put so much into something like a World Cup campaign and lost out largely because of one crunch decision.

"When I came back from New Zealand I didn't go anywhere, but I did try to switch off from rugby. We had a week off and we've been brought gradually back into it. The best thing is that, physically, I have no issues.

"We came in last Monday for a screening to see how we were and I'm fine, when normally I would have had quite a few bumps.But I spent quite a long time out of the game and that benefited me. I'm ready to go."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

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