Josh Macleod will lead the Scarlets for 2026-27 – his fourth season as club captain.
Consistently one of the leading back-rowers in the BKT United Rugby Championship, Macleod has 150 appearances in a Scarlets jersey, having made his debut 11 years ago at the age of eighteen.
From Pembrokeshire, Macleod came through the ranks of Crymych RFC before starring for the Scarlets at age-grade level.
He first took on the captaincy during the 2022-23 campaign, stepping in for the injured Jonathan Davies and helping steer the side to the semi-finals of the EPCR Challenge Cup.
Capped five times by Wales, Macleod has underlined his qualities as a leader, both on and off the field. His relentless work-rate, competitiveness and commitment to the jersey have made him one of the most respected figures within the Scarlets squad.
The experienced and popular back-rower has been chosen to lead the squad into a new season following a summer of significant change to the playing group and rugby programme at Parc y Scarlets.
Scarlets Director of Rugby Nigel Davies said: “Choosing a club captain is an important decision. It’s about who clearly represents what you want the team to be every day, and Josh does that by instinct.
“Within the context of a new rugby programme and a lot of change this summer, we wanted to look at our leadership afresh.
“Watching how Josh trains, how he competes, how he carries himself around the environment and, importantly, how much playing for this club means to him, it is clear to us as coaches he is the stand-out natural leader in our squad.
“Josh is a Scarlet through and through, but that alone isn’t enough. He’s an outstanding competitor. He’s brave, he’s physical, he works incredibly hard and he’s prepared to put himself into places that others sometimes won’t. As a Scarlets team we want to compete for everything and stay in the fight as well as understanding what representing this region means. Josh embodies that.
“We’ve spoken a lot internally about the standards required to take this club forward. If we’re going to change our results, we have to change what we’re prepared to demand of ourselves every day, and the captain has an important role in driving that.”
Macleod will be supported by a vice-captain who will be named in due course along with a senior player leadership group, with a number of experienced players providing additional leadership from the ranks of the Scarlets squad.
Davies added: “There will inevitably be difficult moments during a season and that’s when leadership really matters. We want players who are prepared to speak, challenge, make decisions and take ownership. Josh will lead that, and he’ll have a strong group around him.”
Scarlets skipper Josh Macleod said: “It continues to be a huge privilege to lead this club. It’s humbling to be following in the footsteps of some of the greats of the game who have captained the Scarlets.
“This season does feel different. There’s been a lot of change, there are new players and coaches in the environment and there is a real challenge to us as a group about where we want to take this team.
“There are a lot of fresh faces who have come in and added real energy to the squad and a group of talented youngsters who have been putting their hands up throughout pre-season. That competition is exactly what we need.
“As captain, it’s about making sure the standards we talk about are the standards we live every day. That’s in training, around the environment and, most importantly, when we pull the jersey on.
Macleod says he’s looking forward to working with the vice-captain and the other senior players in the leadership group.
He added: “Captaincy isn’t about one person having all the answers. We’ve got plenty of experience and different personalities within the squad and it’s important that we use that.
“We’re fortunate to have an incredible group of supporters who have stuck with this team through some difficult periods. We know ultimately the way we repay that support isn’t by talking about what we’re going to do – it’s by performing and winning rugby matches.
“We’re looking forward to getting down to Exeter for our first pre-season hit-out and then building towards a massive opening URC game against Cardiff at Parc y Scarlets.
“There’s a lot of work ahead of us, but I can’t wait to lead the boys into it.”