Cardiff Blues prop Gethin Jenkins has been appointed captain of Wales for the one-off Test with world champions South Africa at the Millennium Stadium on November 24.

Jenkins (pictured), Wales' most capped prop with 51 appearances for his country, takes over the captaincy from club team-mate Gareth Thomas, who captained Wales during their disappointing World Cup campaign.

The 26-year-old Jenkins was appointed by care-taker manager Nigel Davies, who is in charge of Wales until the recently-appointed Warren Gatland takes charge on December 1.

"Anyone who knows or has worked with Gethin will tell you he sets high standards for himself and those around him," Davies told the icWales website.

"We all talk about looking after the 'one per cents' as the way to get ahead in elite sport and Gethin typifies the professional sportsman who lets nothing go by him.

"He's a 26-year-old with 50 caps, two World Cups and a British Lions tour under his belt which shows his dedication in itself, and you only have to look at his ability to contribute to both sides of the front row to know you have something special as a player.

"For our meeting with South Africa we need a captain who will galvanize the squad, someone who every player will be proud to stand in line behind and someone who strives for perfection in himself and those around him - Gethin fits the bill."

Jenkins becomes the 125th player to captain Wales and the 11th front row forward to wear the skipper's armband for the rugby obsessed nation since the Second World War.

"When Nigel asked me to be his captain against South Africa I have to admit it came as a bit of a surprise and I did take some time to think about it, but there was only ever going to be one answer," said Jenkins, who made his international debut against Romania in 2002.

"It's obviously a huge honour, probably the biggest in Welsh sport, but I wanted to be sure I could do justice to the responsibility, my goal as a player is to do everything to the highest of standards and this is no different.

"I had a chat with may dad, a few of the players who are close to me and with Dai Young, who has very much been there and done that, and in the end there was no way I was going to miss the opportunity."

Wales endured a disappointing World Cup when the were eliminated in the pool stages by Fiji, a loss which cost Gareth Jenkins his job as head coach.

Terence O'Rorke / Eurosport