Ellis Jenkins was born in Church Village, spent his early years in Beddau and was educated at Bryn Celynnog Comprehensive School.
Jenkins progressed through the Cardiff age grade sides before becoming an integral player to the Wales Under-20 team in the 2012 Junior World Cup in South Africa. During that campaign, Wales became the first team to beat New Zealand at Under-20 level, earning them a spot in the semi-final.
A year later, Jenkins was named captain as Wales Under-20s team finished runners up, losing to England in the final in France.
Jenkins made his debut for Cardiff in the 2011 Anglo Welsh Cup defeat to Newcastle Falcons, and has gone on to make over 100 appearances for his home region.
Jenkins captained the Blue and Blacks in the 2018 European Challenge Cup final victory over Gloucester in Bilbao.
Having made his senior international debut during the 2016 tour to New Zealand, Jenkins captained Wales for the first time two years later, as they completed a clean sweep in the summer fixtures against Argentina and South Africa.
The back row suffered a serious knee injury the following November in a man of the match display against South Africa. Two years later, he made a long awaited return to action and his performances for the Blue and Blacks earned a recall into the Wales squad for the Autumn Nations Series, where he would feature against Springboks.