Jenkins is from Kirwee and started playing rugby at the age of four. She initially played for her father's club, Kirwee, before playing for West Melton.[1] She studied at the University of Canterbury towards a degree in sports coaching, while working for her father as a wardrobe builder.[2][1]
Rugby career
2018–22
Jenkins played club rugby for Christchurch; she joined the club as a 15-year-old when her mother was the physio.[1] She made her Farah Palmer Cup debut for Canterbury in 2017 as a 16-year-old.[1] In 2022, she scored a hat-trick for Christchurch and helped them win their 12th back-to-back title.[3] She competed for Canterbury in the 2022 Farah Palmer Cup season and started in their opening match against Wellington.[4][5]
Jenkins was named to Matatū's squad for their inaugural season of Super Rugby Aupiki in November 2021.[6][7] She was named to start in Matatū's first game of the inaugural season as they faced Chiefs Manawa in Hamilton; her side went down 15–17.[8][9] In the second round, she moved to start at 6 after playing in the openside the previous week.[10][11]
2023
At the start of the 2023 Super Rugby Aupiki season, Jenkins scored her first try for Matatū in their first-ever win in the competition; they narrowly beat the Blues 33–31 in Dunedin.[12][13] She scored her second try in her side's 38–46 loss to Chiefs Manawa.[14] She was named to the starting lineup for Matatū's grand final clash with Chiefs Manawa; her side defeated the defending champions to claim their first title.[15][16] On 17 April 2023, Jenkins was listed among the 34 players who were handed Black Ferns contracts in their buildup ahead of the 2025 Rugby World Cup.[17][18]
