Scarlets can confirm the following members of its rugby squad will be leaving the club at the end of the 2025-26 season.
Second row Jake Ball has announced he is retiring from rugby following an illustrious career for club and country, while wing Tom Rogers, hooker Marnus van der Merwe, second row Max Douglas, prop Alec Hepburn, back-rower Ben Williams, scrum-half Rhodri Lewis and lock Dan Gemine will move onto new opportunities.
In addition, Senior Academy players Tom Phillips and Steff Jac Jones will depart the club this summer.
The Scarlets also say farewell to assistant coach Jared Payne, who leaves after three seasons in west Wales.
Scarlets Interim Director of Rugby Nigel Davies said: “This is always one of the hardest parts of professional rugby because behind every name is a person who has given a huge amount to the club, the environment and the jersey.
“When supporters see the team run out on a Saturday, they understandably focus on the matchday 23, but every player within the wider squad contributes to the standards, competitiveness and culture that drives the group forward.
“We talk a lot about connection at the Scarlets and every one of these individuals has left their mark on this club in different ways; on the field, within the environment and with the supporters.
“Naturally, there’s emotion when people move on, particularly players who supporters have built a strong connection with over a number of years. But that is also the reality of professional rugby. Squads evolve, cycles change and part of building for the future is balancing continuity, development and new opportunities.
“What is important is that we respect and recognise fully the contribution these players have made while also continuing to move the squad forward with clarity and ambition.
“We are working hard behind the scenes on recruitment and retention and supporters and partners will see further positive announcements in the coming weeks. There is a strong determination to build a squad that reflects the identity, competitiveness and ambition expected at this club.”
Nigel paid special tribute to Jake Ball, who will retire following Saturday’s BKT URC clash against the Dragons.
“Jake has been a huge figure for the Scarlets over two spells with the club and deserves enormous recognition for what he has achieved,” he added.
“He has represented the region with distinction for over a decade and supporters will rightly remember him as one of the outstanding second rows of the professional era here.
“To play with the consistency, physicality and commitment he has shown over so many years at both club and international level is a tremendous achievement and everybody at the Scarlets wishes him and his family the very best in retirement.”
Supporters will have the opportunity to say their farewells following Saturday’s BKT United Rugby Championship clash with Dragons RFC at Parc y Scarlets when there will be a presentation to players at the end of the game
Negotiations are ongoing with other members of the squad and we will confirm all players who have been retained for the 2026-27 season in the coming weeks.
Jared Payne
Jared joined the Scarlets in the summer of 2023 from French side Clermont Auvergne, initially taking on responsibility for the club’s attack and backs before later overseeing the defence programme. A former Ireland international and British & Irish Lion, Payne has brought a wealth of experience to the Scarlets coaching group and has played an important role in supporting the development of a number of the club’s emerging young players during his time in West Wales.
Jake Ball
Jake this week announced he is retiring from rugby. Jake returned to Llanelli last summer for a second spell with the club after spending nine years establishing himself as an integral figure for club and country. A member of the Scarlets squad that won the Guinness Pro12 title in 2016-17 and reached the Pro14 final and Champions Cup semi-final the following year, Jake is to retire with 148 Scarlets appearances and 50 Wales caps to his name, with his Test career including a Six Nations Grand Slam campaign and two World Cup semi-finals.
Tom Rogers
A product of the Scarlets Academy, the Cefneithin product has played 89 games for the club since making his senior debut in 2017. Equally comfortable at full-back or wing, Tom has represented Wales U20s, Wales 7s and has gone on to win 13 caps for Wales, scoring a memorable hat-trick against the All Blacks in Cardiff. The 27-year-old, who has scored 22 tries in a Scarlets jersey, is joining the Ospreys.
Marnus van der Merwe
A signing from Toyota Cheetahs for the start of the 2024-25 campaign, Marnus has made 42 appearances for the Scarlets, scoring three tries. Made an instant impact in his first season in Llanelli, winning the supporters’ player-of-the-season award and being named in the URC’s ‘Elite XV’. His outstanding form in west Wales also didn’t go unnoticed in his homeland, earning the 29-year-old a Test debut for the Springboks. Marnus is heading across the Irish Sea to Munster for next season.
Max Douglas
Having started his professional career with Super Rugby side the Waratahs, Max arrived in Llanelli in the summer of 2024 following a spell playing in Japan with Yokohama Canon Eagles. Has played 34 matches in his two seasons, starting 32 of those matches and scoring two tries. A versatile forward who has played regularly in the second row and back row, he has been one of the leading line-out forwards in the URC this season. Max is taking up an opportunity to play again in Japan.
Alec Hepburn
The Scotland international loose-head has played 34 matches in two seasons since arriving from Exeter Chiefs in 2024. During his time in west Wales, ‘Heps’ earned a recall to international rugby and was part of the Scotland touring party last summer – playing against the New Zealand Maori and Fiji – and was called into train with Gregor Townsend’s 2026 Six Nations squad ahead of their Championship finale against Ireland. Has signed with URC rivals Edinburgh Rugby.
Ben Williams
A product of Gilfach Goch RFC, Ben shone for Llanelli RFC in the Welsh Premiership before making his Scarlets debut in a URC clash against Edinburgh in 2023. Has gone on to make 27 appearances for the club, including matches in the European Challenge Cup out in France against Castres Olympique and Clermont Auvergne during the 2023-24 campaign.
Rhodri Lewis
Signed from the Ospreys in 2024, the former Wales U20s scrum-half made his Scarlets debut in a pre-season match in Carmarthen. Has impressed for Carmarthen Quins in the SRC.
Dan Gemine
Dan was brought in to train with the squad in the summer, while also playing for Llandovery in the SRC. Made his URC debut for the Scarlets as a replacement against the Lions in Johannesburg and also featured in the friendly against Harlequins in November.
Senior Academy
Prop Tom Phillips and fly-half Steff Jac Jones will be moving on from the Scarlets Senior Academy. We wish both well for their futures in the game.