Talented young prop Sam O’Connor has signed his first senior contract with the club.
The 23-year-old loose-head enjoyed a breakthrough season in 2024-25, making 12 Scarlets appearances and appearing in key matches in the URC and Challenge Cup.
A Wales U18s international, ‘SOC’, like his older brother Wales senior international Harri, came through the Exiles programme, signing for the Scarlets Academy at the age of 17.
He has played semi-professional rugby for Llanelli RFC and Carmarthen Quins RFC in the Welsh Premiership and Super Rygbi Cymru, but is set to be a key part of the Scarlets senior squad next season as Dwayne Peel’s side look to push on after making the BKT URC play-offs this term.
Sam is currently recovering from a serious hamstring injury suffered in training at the end of the season, but is targeting a return to action in September.
He said: “Having been part of the academy here since 2019, playing here with my brother as well, the club means a lot to me – I am chuffed to have signed my first senior contract.
“It’s been a good season, I have been involved a lot more and it has been great to have been able to play a part in helping us reach the play-offs in the URC and Challenge Cup. As a young prop I feel I am learning all the time and getting rugby under my belt against some of the best front-rowers in the game can only benefit me in the long run.
“It was gutting to miss out on the final weeks of the play-off push after picking up a hamstring injury in the week of the Leinster home game, but the op went well and now it’s all about working hard on my rehab over the summer. Hopefully I can be back out there on the field for the start of next season.
“There is an exciting young squad here who are determined to build on what we achieved this season. We are building a real connection and I feel we can go on to bigger things – I am looking forward to being a part of that.”
Head coach Dwayne Peel added: “We have seen a lot of growth from ‘SOC’ this season, in games and on the training field. He was also making an impression coming on in important games towards the end of the season and it was a shame his campaign was cut short by that hamstring injury.
“He is a player who carries a lot of potential, one of a number of young front-rowers we are excited about at the club. I am sure he will be back stronger for the start of the season.”
Sam joins another Academy product Macs Page in graduating to the senior squad for the 2025-26 campaign. Tomi Lewis, Eddie James, Joe Roberts, Taine Plumtree, Kemsley Mathias, Sam Costelow and Johnny Williams have also signed new contracts to extend their stay at the club.
They will be joined in pre-season training by new signings Joe Hawkins, Jake Ball, Dane Blacker, Tristan Davies and Ioan Jones.