Six Nations: Gibbs urges Jenkins to hang around

Scott Gibbs has hailed Wales stand-off Neil Jenkins as a ‘‘living legend’’ following suggestions that his British Lions colleague may quit international rugby at the end of this summer’s tour to Australia.

Jenkins bagged 28 points - a try, two drop-goals, three penalties and four conversions - as Wales beat France 43-35 in Paris on Saturday.

Afterwards, the Llanelli kicking-machine was non-committal about his future and Gibbs hopes that he will put off the decision to hang up his boot for a while yet.

‘‘He is an incredible player who has been the hub of the Wales team for the last 10 years,’’ Gibbs told rugbyicons.com.

‘‘There has been talk of Neil retiring from international rugby this summer, and after 83 caps I can understand why he might be thinking that way.

‘‘When he does go, he will leave a huge gap to fill. He is a living legend, a guy who has not been changed by success.

‘‘I have known him since we were kids and he is exactly the person I knew then.

‘‘He is single-minded and driven by success, but he is a modest, down-to-earth guy who makes light of his remarkable achievements.

‘‘He has had to endure a lot of criticism in his career, but he has never let it get to him.

‘‘He lets everything bounce off him, which is why he does not get carried away by days like Saturday or weighed down by a bad defeat.

‘‘We will never see his like again, but I think his story still has a few chapters to run. I certainly hope so.’’