Gethin Jenkins is one of world rugby's finest loose-head props
Fit-again Wales prop Gethin Jenkins has further boosted the Blues by signing a new contract at the region.
"Gethin has signed his contract taking him through to 2012... [he's] the best loose-head in the world, the Blues have seen that," said agent Mark Spoors.
The first-choice British and Irish Lions loose-head, 28, returns from a summer shoulder injury to captain the Blues at Sale Sharks on Friday.
Blues and Lions flanker Martyn Williams is also due back in action soon.
Williams, like Jenkins, needed shoulder surgery following a bruising summer Lions tour to South Africa, and both were expected to miss November's Test series.
Wales prop Adam Jones is out of Wales' autumn campaign with another shoulder injury suffered on the Lions tour, the Ospreys tight-head due back in December.
Spoors says that Jones has signed a new deal at the Ospreys, although the region say that the contract has yet to be finalised.
Williams is three weeks from fitness, leaving him little chance of making Wales' opening autumn date, the 7 November New Zealand clash.
The All Blacks Test is followed by games against Samoa, Argentina and Australia on successive weekends.
The Blues travel to Leinster in the Magners League on 31 October, and Williams could then have the opportunity to build his match fitness in the Anglo-Welsh Cup.
The Blues visit Saracens on 8 November and host London Irish the following week.
Veteran flanker Williams was initially expected to be out until the new year.
The 34-year-old, who has 81 caps, was persuaded to come out of international retirement by Warren Gatland and the Wales coach hopes to manage the open-side flanker's fitness so he can continue through to the 2011 World Cup finals.
Gatland is struggling for options at seven in his absence, Dafydd Jones, Sam Warburton and Gavin Thomas amongst the players in contention.
The return of loose-head Jenkins will be welcome to Wales coach Warren Gatland.
Young says he had no hesitation in throwing Jenkins back as captain in the injury absence of regular skipper Paul Tito, and suggested that the 68-cap star could play a leading role for Wales in the autumn.
"Gethin's got international captaincy experience," Young told BBC Sport Wales.
"He's so highly thought of here at the Blues that he's the obvious choice.
"He's sure to be be on a shortlist for the Welsh captaincy if there's a vacancy or change there."
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