CARWYN SIGNS FOUR-YEAR DEAL WITH SCARLETS
ONE of Welsh rugby’s bright young prospects, Carwyn Tuipulotu, has committed his future to the Scarlets by signing a four-year deal – his first professional contract.
The 19-year-old back-rower has made a big impression at Parc y Scarlets this season and came off the bench for his Guinness PRO14 debut against Leinster last month.
The son of Tongan international Kati Tuipulotu, Carwyn was educated at Sedbergh School in Cumbria before linking up with the Scarlets Academy from Newcastle two seasons ago.
Capped at Wales U16s and U18s level, he is currently part of the Wales U20s group training for the forthcoming Six Nations.
He is also in the first year of a philosophy degree at Swansea University, combining his studies with his professional rugby career.
“I am delighted to have signed a contract here with the Scarlets,” he said.
“I feel like I am settled and really at home here.
“There are a lot of senior players who have been a great help to me, they are like my big brothers.
“I am learning a huge amount from their experiences and that can only help me develop my game.”
Scarlets head coach Glenn Delaney said: “Carwyn is clearly a young man with a big future ahead of him.
“We feel a real responsibility to provide him with the best opportunity and environment to progress.
“It’s about making sure we do the right thing by him so he can become the player that we all hope he will be.”
Tuipulotu has become the latest player to commit his future to the West Walians.
In the past few weeks Wales prop Wyn Jones, who has been one of the standout performers of the opening two rounds of the Six Nations and is being suggested as a possible Lions tourist should the trip to South Africa go ahead this summer, has also put pen to paper on a new deal.
And fellow prop Javan Sebastian has also signed a new contract with his home region.
In addition, the Scarlets have also announced the signing of prop WillGriff John from Sale Sharks, who had long been linked with a move to Wales.
The tight-head had been due to make his Wales debut in last season’s Six Nations clash with Scotland, only for the match to be cancelled because of the coronavirus emergency.
He is yet to feature in a Wales squad since but is renowned as a powerful scrummager.