Young Wales player's cancer death

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The parents of a promising young rugby player who died from a rare form of cancer speak of their loss.

Friends of a youth rugby international are being asked to wear Welsh tops at his funeral in Swansea.

Gareth Jenkins was diagnosed with a form of bone cancer just weeks after he won his first under-18s cap.

The 18-year-old died from Ewing's Sarcoma last week and will be buried in the kit he wore for his Welsh debut.

Hundreds of friends are expected at the service at Christ Church in Swansea on Tuesday and his parents said he would not have wanted them to dress in black.

The prop signed for the Ospreys youth team three years ago and won his first Welsh cap in an under-18s match against England at the start of the year.

His father Clyde said he was also a very good goalkeeper who had attracted interest from Manchester City, Leicester and Swansea.

He was very strong and courageous right to the very end Gareth Jenkins' mother Carolyn

Mr Jenkins said doctors detected the the disease after a leg injury failed to heal.

"His ambition was to play for Wales and all he wanted was his number one shirt," he said.

"He came on as substitute in four of the games, but in the game against Italy, he was asked because everyone knew he wasn't fully fit because of his leg, whether or not he wanted to start.

"He said yes, that was all he wanted."

Gareth will be buried in the kit he made his debut in.

"He never missed a training session, he loved training," said Mr Jenkins.

Courageous

"And he was so proud of his body, he'd have gone as far as he wanted to go.

"He wanted a senior number one shirt and he would not have stopped 'till he had it because he'd never stop 'till he achieved his goal, and that was the goal."

Ewing's Sarcoma is most common in youngsters between the ages of 10 and 20.

His mother Carolyn added: "He was happy, courageous, brave, loveable - he loved life to the full.

"He just touched so many hearts - even from a small child everyone loved him.

"He was very strong and courageous right to the very end.

"I'm really, really proud of all he's achieved in such a short space of time."