Former London Irish second row Ed Scragg has signed for the Scarlets ahead of the 2023-24 season.
The 6ft 7in Wales U20s cap will link up with the squad for pre-season next month.
Born in Somerset, Scragg qualifies for Wales through his mother’s side of the family who hail from Neath. He has been capped at U18, U19 and U20 level, where he played at the 2019 Junior World Championships in Argentina alongside current Scarlets Jac Price, Morgan Jones, Ryan Conbeer, Sam Costelow, Tomi Lewis and Kemsley Mathias.
Scragg came through the Dragons Academy while also studying sports management at Cardiff Met University. After a spell with Cornish Pirates, where he also went out on loan to Plymouth Albion, he joined Irish in June 2022, playing six matches in a Premiership Cup campaign that saw the Exiles reach the final. In March, the 22-year-old headed down under to join Sydney University on a loan deal.
He will be part of a restructured Senior Academy at the Scarlets.
Scarlets Head Coach Dwayne Peel said: ‘Ed is a talented young Welsh lock with a lot of potential. He has been gaining invaluable experience with Cornish Pirates in the Championship and more recently London Irish and is looking to continue his development with us at the Scarlets.
“We’re looking forward to welcoming him to Parc y Scarlets when he returns from his spell playing in Australia.”
Ed Scragg said: “It was sad to finish my time at Irish in the manner that it ended and I’d like to thank the club for the opportunity they gave me and wish everyone well for the next chapter.
“I am grateful to the Scarlets for giving me the chance to continue my professional career and I am excited about linking with a great club with a proud history when I return to Wales now that I have finished my time playing in Sydney.”
ED SCRAGG
Age: 22
Position: Second Row
Weight: 120kg
Height: 201cm
Honours: Wales U18s, U19s, U20s
Previous clubs: Dragons Academy, Cardiff Met University, Cornish Pirates, Plymouth Albion, London Irish, Sydney University.