SCARLETS SIGN SCOTTISH STAR
THE Scarlets have bolstered their front-row resources with the signing of Exeter Chiefs prop Alec Hepburn.
The Scotland international won the Champions Cup with the Chiefs and will join up with the West Wales region ahead of the 2024-25 season.
The 31-year-old has been at Sandy Park since 2014, when he signed from London Irish.
He went on to enjoy huge success with the Chiefs and also earned six England caps, including one against Wales at Twickenham.
Hepburn changed his international allegiance earlier this year, joining up with Gregor Townsend’s Scotland team ahead of the Six Nations.
He qualifies through his father, who was born in Glasgow. He featured in Scotland’s win over Wales in Cardiff during the Six Nations as a replacement.
Scarlets head coach Dwayne Peel said: “We are delighted to sign a player with the reputation of Alec, who has been a big part of Exeter’s success story in recent years.
“He is an international forward who brings a huge amount of experience at club level and someone who will strengthen our front-row resources and help develop an exciting young group of Welsh prop forwards coming through at the club.
“He has a reputation as a strong scrummager and dynamic carrier and we feel he will fit in well with the way we are looking to play the game.”
Hepburn added: “After nearly 10 years playing at Exeter Chiefs, I feel the time has come for a new challenge.
“Signing for the Scarlets is an exciting opportunity to try to prove myself in a different league, against different teams and players alike.
“I look forward for what’s to come, meeting the players and coaches and working in a new environment for the upcoming season in the URC.”
Meanwhile, Scarlets attack coach
Jared Payne is being linked with the role of head coach at Ulster.
The former Ireland and Lions centre joined Peel’s coaching team last summer after spending a year with Clermont, but was Ulster’s defence coach from when he retired in 2018 until 2022.
Now he has been linked with a return to the Irish side after they sacked long-serving coach Dan Mcfarland in February.