Scarlets secure talent of local hero scrum half Gareth Davies

The Scarlets have extended their contract with one of their most exciting scrum-half talents, Gareth Davies.

With more than 90 appearances for the region to date and 70 points to his name in a Scarlets jersey, Davies has become a firm favourite at Parc y Scarlets for his commitment to the Region he has grown up with in rugby.

Davies has shown his tenacious ability and pace on the field already this season having scored seven tries for the Scarlets including a brace against Benetton Treviso as well as his most recent against Harlequins on their visit to Parc y Scarlets in the Heineken Cup this month.

Davies, who comes from Newcastle Emlyn, the same home-town as Scarlets international centre Scott Williams, has been part of the Scarlets rugby development system since he was eight years old.

Scarlets Head Coach Simon Easterby said: “We are delighted to have secured Gareth Davies on an extended contract here at Parc y Scarlets.

“It is good news for us as a Region to have secured a quality player in the ascendancy of his career who has been developed from within our region and that is committed to our values and ambitions as a Region and rugby group.

“He’s an explosive and dynamic player, with the ability to change games with his pace and power.

“As a nine, he’s physically very strong and aggressive and works well with our forwards and has also shown his ability to finish well this season.He is one of a number of quality players that we want to keep within our ranks to build on our strengths as a team with a strong, skillful and attacking back-line, boosted by the addition of players like Regan King who returns next season.”

Welsh speaking scrum half Gareth Davies joined the Scarlets as an Academy member in 2006. He made his first Scarlets appearance in 2009 as a replacement in a league match against Ulster.

Davies signed a development contract during the summer of 2010, supporting the region’s ethos of developing young local talent. During the 2011-12 season he made 27 appearances, scoring 4 tries.

Raised in Carmarthenshire’s Newcastle Emlyn, Gareth Davies had his first taste of rugby playing for his local under 8’s team. Davies was educated at YsgolGyfunDyffrynTeifi, Llandysul before moving on to study Sports Development and Coaching at Coleg Sir Gar, Llanelli.

Gareth Davies said: “I am delighted to have extended my contract at the Scarlets going forward and I am thoroughly enjoying my rugby with the Region I’ve grown up with and as part of an ambitious squad we now have here at Parc y Scarlets.

“There is plenty to come from this team in the future, we’ve shown what we can achieve as a team from our away wins in Europe this season against some big teams and there’s a lot of commitment in this group to push on now.

“Coming from this region, it means a lot to pull on the Scarlets jersey and my home community, family and friends are part of the Scarlets, so it’s obviously the place I want to be, feel most comfortable within as I develop further as a player.”