Scarlets look to the future with new Academy members
THE Scarlets have confirmed the make-up of their contracted Academy squad for the 2022-23 season.
There are eight new intakes at Parc y Scarlets – prop Yestyn Cook, lock Will Evans, flanker Keanu Evans, flyhalf Steffan Jac Jones and full-back Iori Badham have stepped up from the region’s under-16 programme, with Isaac Young (hooker), Joe Rees (hooker) and Ioan Lewis (prop) graduating from the under-18s.
Five of the eight are home-grown products who have come through clubs, colleges and schools within the Scarlets region and impressed during last season’s Academy agegrade games and training.
Young, Evans and Cook have signed as part of the Scarlets’ relationship with the Welsh Exiles.
Players heading into the second year of their contracts are flanker Will Plessis, centre Macs Page, wing Iolo Griffiths and full-back Harry Fuller.
Scarlets development pathway manager Kevin George said: “All the players have stood out during our age-grade programmes.
“We are extremely proud that the Academy continues to produce professional players, not just for the Scarlets, but for Wales and the British and Irish Lions.
“Seven of the matchday 23 who played in the historic win over the Springboks in Bloemfontein were with us in the Scarlets Academy.
“The likes of Harri O’connor, Carwyn Tuipulotu, Kemlsey Mathias, Jac Price and Morgan Jones have all recently come through the Academy and are now playing regularly for the senior side.
“Archie Hughes and Lewis Morgan, who are in the fourth year of the programme, featured in the URC last season.
“Callum Williams represented Wales 7s at the Commonwealth Games.
“We are excited by the talent that we have not just in this contracted group but the players in the selected age-grade teams throughout the wider Academy.”