A former Hartpury College BTEC Level 3 extended diploma sport (rugby) student has been named as the new Wales captain for the 2024 Six Nations Rugby Championship.

Dafydd Jenkins, who has played 12 international games, becomes the second-youngest captain in Welsh rugby history.

Dafydd's journey to becoming the Wales captain is testament to his hard work and dedication, as well as the support he received during his time at Hartpury College.

Dafydd said: "It's a dream come true; it's probably not sunk in yet. Once we have the first game, and we're into the matches, it will start flowing a bit more. It is definitely a special day for me and my family.

"As a team, we're really looking forward to the Six Nations and we're pushing for wins, but obviously the performances as well to back that up. And hopefully the Welsh public can get behind the performances.

"Hartpury College had a massive impact on my career. You're training like a pro from the age of 16. I've had a lot of clever people along the way helping me out."

Wayne Thompson, junior rugby academy manager at Hartpury College, said: "Everyone at Hartpury extends our congratulations to Dafydd on this remarkable achievement and we wish him and the Wales team all the very best for the 2024 Six Nations.

"It's great to hear that Hartpury had such a positive impact on his rugby development to date. Captaining the Wales senior men's side at such a young age shows great maturity as an individual. Many of his leadership qualities were clear as they developed alongside his studies here at the college."

Hartpury University and Hartpury College's commitment to supporting players like Dafydd has solidified its reputation as a leading institution for sports education and its legacy in the Six Nations. The dual career pathway allows students to train and compete in a variety of sports, whilst studying for qualifications including A Levels, diplomas, degrees and more.

This pathway has produced players including Louis Rees-Zammit (Wales), Seb Negri (Italy), Ellis Genge (England) and Stephen Varney (Italy), who all feature on the brand new eight-part Netflix series Full Contact.