Singer Sophie Evans says 'I admire you so much' in emotional tribute as husband Ellis Jenkins quits rugby

Welsh singer Sophie Evans has paid tribute to her husband who has announced his retirement from rugby - and even joked that he will now be responsible for household chores once she shows him where the Hoover is.

Cardiff and Wales back-row Ellis Jenkins announced on Monday that he will retire from rygby at the end of this season. Back-row Jenkins played for Wales 15 times and captained them on four occasions, and has been a key figure at the Arms Park for more than 10 years. To get the latest What's On newsletters from WalesOnline, click here.

He said: “I told Jockey (Cardiff coach Matt Sherratt) at the start of the season that this would be my last and after 13 years, it feels like the right time. I am now looking forward to enjoying rugby from the terrace with a beer, doing all the things I could not do as a player and leading a fit and active life with my young family.”

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On Monday evening, his wife Sophie said she was “very emotional” despite knowing for some time that her husband was set to hang up his rugby boots this year. Sophie, from Tonypandy, is a musical theatre star who shot to fame in 2010 when she was the runner-up on BBC talent show Over the Rainbow. She has appeared in West End productions of The Wizard of Oz and Wicked.

She and Jenkins married in June 2022 and have a young son named Jack. Posting on Instagram, Sophie wrote: “This day was going to come at some point and you’ve said for a long time now that this year would be the year you would retire, but I’m still very emotional for you. There’s no one I’ve ever witnessed with as much drive, determination, professionalism, leadership, empathy, heart and good looks as you.

"I actually admire you so much, you teach me things daily and to see you have the career you have with the set backs you’ve had has made me the proudest wife. You move on to new things, who knows what but I know you’ll be amazing at whatever you turn your hand to. For now you’ll be a bloody good house husband, the hoover is in the front room and I’ll show you how to turn it on - me and Jack are so lucky to call you ours. Love you so much THE GOAT (yeah I’m biased).”

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