West Wales rugby gets boost as Scarlets trio extend contracts

The Scarlets have announced another three signings to add to the five already made this year – securing the services of a trio of talented backs for next season and beyond.

Taking centre stage with the Scarlets are Scott Williams, Gareth Maule and Adam Warren who have all put pen to paper to commit their continued loyalty and support of rugby in West Wales.

Securing the talent and experience of all three versatile centres will be seen as a big boost to rugby at Parc y Scarlets this season and shows the region’s commitment and ambition to retain top players and home-grown talent.

The positive news adds to a growing list of contracts already in place for next season with key players including Wales internationals Ken Owens (hooker) and Aaron Shingler (back row) along with new outside half signing Steve Shingler who joins from London Irish and influential Scarlets front rowers Phil John and Emyr Phillips also secured.

Scarlets Head Coach Simon Easterby said: “These are important re-signings for us and if you add these players to the core of international and regional talent we have already in contract with us, there is a very strong foundation being retained here at the Scarlets in terms of experience, quality and flair which is key to our ambition.

“Add the eight players that we have secured so far going forward to a squad list that includes international class players like Jon Davies, Rhys Priestland, Liam Williams, Rob McCusker, Josh Turnbull plus a group of very talented young emerging players and we have a lot to be positive about.

“To have secured key players like Ken Owens and Scott Williams with the value and profile they have both inside and outside Wales, shows that wherever possible, we are committed to retaining our best talent and have the ambition push forward rugby at Parc y Scarlets and reward our loyal, supporters, partners and sponsors.”

Scarlets supporters will be delighted to have retained the popular Carmarthenshire born international centre Scott Williams, a player who has been brought up in rugby through the Scarlets region coming from Newcastle Emlyn and playing for Whitland RFC and Llanelli RFC. His Scarlets debut came on 2nd October 2010 against the Ospreys. He has appeared 52 times with 32 points for the region.

Williams’ international debut for Wales came as a replacement against the Barbarians on 4th June 2011. He was then selected for the Welsh squad that went to the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand – scoring four tries with a hat trick against Namibia. Williams was also part of the Grand Slam winning squad of the 2012 Six Nations Championships and scored the unforgettable, headline-grabbing decisive try in the victory over England at Twickenham.

Scott Williams, 22, said: “I am delighted to be staying at the Scarlets – I wouldn’t want to play my rugby anywhere else and it was important to me to be part of this rugby squad and region having grown-up with Scarlets rugby. The team has shown its determination and ability this season and to be in the race now for the play-offs in the PRO12 means everything to the players and supporters at Parc y Scarlets.”

And during international windows, centre colleagues Gareth Maule and Adam Warren have been at the heart of the league campaign to keep the Scarlets in the fight for a league play-off place this season.

Born in Pontypool, Gareth Maule (25) who has captained his region, is established as a senior figure in the Scarlets set-up having moved from the Newport Gwent Dragons in May 2009 and played four seasons with the Scarlets. His league debut for the Scarlets came on 19 September 2009 at home to Munster. Maule has been capped for Wales at U16, U18, U19 and U20 over 20 times. He has appeared 88 times for the Scarlets with 50 points.

Gareth Maule said: “It is really important to me to be part of the Scarlets going forward; there’s a great spirit and determination in this region and we’re a close-knit squad of players at Parc y Scarlets who are determined to achieve success. It’s good to work with a very ambitious and focused group of coaches who are bringing out the best in the players and challenging us all.”

Young international centre Adam Warren, 22, made his Scarlets debut against Aironi on 4th September 2011 and was one of the rising stars of the season scoring four tries in his first season, which earned him his international debut for Wales against the Barbarians at the Millennium Stadium on 2 June 2012.

Born in Carmarthen and raised in Burry Port, he played his youth rugby for Llangennech and was named Player of the Season after his first season with the senior team, before moving onto Llandovery for the 2010-11 season. Adam has also been capped by the Welsh Under 20s team and the Welsh 7s team. He has appeared 34 times for the region with 20 points.

Adam Warren said: “I am very pleased to have extended my contract at the Scarlets and it is where I am at home playing my rugby. The region invested in me and gave me opportunities when I stepped up to the senior squad in 2011, developing me as a player and I just want to push on now and stay competitive. There are some great players to work alongside and to be part of an ambitious Scarlets squad can only be a good thing for me.”