Dafydd Jenkins believes the growing number of Welsh stars moving to the English Premiership can help strengthen the game back home. The Exeter Chiefs lock has spent his entire senior career at Sandy Park and is among a growing contingent of Wales internationals testing themselves across the border.
Star arrivals in the Premiership
Wales captains Jac Morgan and Dewi Lake were among the biggest summer arrivals after joining Gloucester from the Ospreys, with both featuring in the Cherry and Whites' opening-day victory over Jenkins and Exeter. Another huge Wales star in Aaron Wainwright has joined Leicester, with the likes of Louis Rees-Zammit and Tomos Williams already playing in the Prem.
Jenkins, 23, believes the standard of competition over the border can benefit Welsh rugby.
"It's class to see," Jenkins said. "I think they all probably saw the same thing that I did when I came over in terms of how competitive the league is, the sort of crowds they play in front of, and just how quality the league is. It's only going to improve you as a player playing against all these top players."
"It's class to have them in the league and it's always nice to catch them after the games. Obviously, Jac and Dewi got the bragging rights after that Gloucester game, which I was pretty gutted with. Class to see them ripping up and hopefully look forward to playing with and against them soon again."
Opportunities for emerging talent
Jenkins also believes the departures of established Wales internationals could create opportunities for emerging talent within the United Rugby Championship. With experienced players moving to England, younger Welsh prospects could have a clearer route into senior rugby with the country's four professional regions.
"I think the positive in that is that they're opening up space for another young hooker, another young back-rower," he told BBC Sport. "So I think it's only going to probably strengthen the game in terms of bringing more Welsh players through in those regions."
Injury recovery and season ahead
Jenkins has started all three of Exeter's league matches this season after helping the Chiefs reach last season's Premiership final, where they were beaten by Northampton Saints in June. The lock scored a try in that Twickenham defeat but subsequently underwent shoulder surgery, ruling him out of Wales' Nations Championship fixtures against South Africa, Argentina and Fiji in July.
He admitted the transition from the end of the club season straight into rehabilitation had been difficult, although he is continuing to manage the injury as the new campaign progresses. "It was tough in the off-season to go straight from last season into rehab, but it's just part of the game," Jenkins added. "It's probably still not as strong as my other one, so still while I'm playing I'm trying to keep on top of my sort of rehab, pre-hab stuff, but it'll get there as the season goes on."
"Any time you have to say no for your best interest is a really hard decision to make and something that does get a lot of thought put into it. But I think speaking to Steve [Tandy, the Wales head coach,] and the physios and all the staff there they were really supportive and just wanted what was best for me, which was really positive for me as a player that they've got my best interests, especially ahead of a really big year with the World Cup at the end of the year and a lot of Chiefs honours to go for."
