Ahead of Scarlets’ BKT United Rugby Championship play-off against Leinster, Wales international centre Johnny Williams has become the latest player to sign a new contract with the club.
The 28-year-old midfielder has been in impressive form since his return from injury, earning a recall to Wales’ squad for the summer tour of Japan on the back of a string of outstanding performances in the URC.
Johnny arrived in West Wales in 2020 after signing from Newcastle Falcons and quickly went on to earn his Test spurs with a debut against Georgia in Llanelli.
An integral presence in a youthful Scarlets backline, he has made 62 Scarlets appearances and has been a key weapon in this season’s ‘Race to the Eight’ which has seen Dwayne Peel’s side book a quarter-final tie against Leinster in Dublin on Saturday afternoon.
Head coach Peel said: “Johnny is a key member of the squad, someone who has become a leader for us on and off the field and that experience is going to be vital over the coming years as part of the young back division we are developing at the club.
“It has been great to see Johnny’s form rewarded with a recall to the Wales squad and his re-signing is more positive news for the club as we continue to build and grow as a group.”
Johnny Williams said: “I am really excited to have re-signed for another couple of years. I have been here five years now and I feel this team is really evolving.
“There is a lot of talent within the squad, especially with the young guys coming through – I am one of the oldest players in the squad now at 28!. These are exciting times and I am looking forward to seeing where this team can go.”
Looking forward to Saturday’s play-off showdown against Leinster, Johnny said: “It is going to be a hell of a challenge, but we have the belief, we have the confidence, it is about delivering a performance, that is all that matters.”
As for his return to the Wales squad for the July Tests against Japan, he added: “It is great to be back in the Wales set-up. I have been gutted to have missed a couple of squad selections, so I’m obviously delighted to be back in the mix. But at the moment the focus is all on the quarter-final and hopefully we can get the result in Dublin on Saturday and keep going.”
With fellow backs Macs Page, Tomi Lewis, Eddie James, Joe Roberts and Sam Costelow having also agreed new deals, there is a lot of excitement building around the Scarlets back division for next season.
Taine Plumtree and Kemsley Mathias have also extended their stay ahead of the 2025-26 campaign, while Joe Hawkins, Jake Ball, Dane Blacker and England U20s full-back Ioan Jones have signed for the club.