Sam’s the man as Scarlets seal deal
The Scarlets have pulled off a coup by signing Wales U20s star Sam Costelow from Leicester on a two-year deal, writes Simon Thomas.
Just turned 19, the flyhalf from Pencoed is seen as one of Welsh rugby’s most talented young players.
He played for Wales U16s and U18s, scoring a scintillating solo try in a victory over England U18s out in South Africa in the summer of 2018.
By that point, he had linked up with the Tigers on an Academy contract, while studying at Oakham School in Rutland. Having helped Leicester win two Academy League titles, he has now broken into their first-team squad, following a spell on loan at Paul Turner’s Ampthill.
He has figured in a couple of games in their European campaign, coming on as a replacement for
England’s Manu Tuilagi in the Challenge Cup clash with Pau in France earlier this month.
That saw him stepping into the centre, further demonstrating his versatility.
During last summer’s World U20s Championships in Argentina, he lined up at centre and scrum-half, as well as at outside-half.
He shared in the famous victory over New Zealand in that tournament, a game in which he suffered a fractured jaw.
The gifted teenager has just been named as one of the fly-halves in Wales’ squad for the U20s Six Nations.
At the Scarlets, he will be competing with Rhys Patchell, Dan Jones and Angus O’Brien for the No. 10 jersey, while also providing a further option in the centre.
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