Evans commits to Scarlets

Editor

Scarlets and Wales loosehead prop Rob Evans is the latest homegrown talent to commit his future to the region, as the team prepares for an all-important clash against Treviso at Parc y Scarlets this Saturday.

Evans, 24, has put pen to paper on a new deal that will see him remain at Parc y Scarlets, and in West Wales, for the foreseeable future.

He joins fellow Welsh star and Scarlets captain Ken Owens, alongside exciting homegrown talents Steff Evans, Will Boyde and Dan Jones as well as Hadleigh Parkes.

He was part of a strong Scarlets front row trio that played an important role in the Wales U20 team that finished third in the 2012 Junior World Championships in South Africa.

The charismatic prop rose to stardom during the 2016 Six Nations, forming one third of a formidable Welsh front row and replacing the veteran, Gethin Jenkins as first choice loosehead prop. A mobile unit in the loose and an effective scrummager, Evans is a cornerstone of the Scarlets scrum.

His first regional appearance came against Sale Sharks in the Anglo-Welsh Cup in 2013 and has since gone on to make over 80 regional appearances. Following solid performances from the replacements bench in 2013-14, including starts in the Champions Cup against Clermont and Racing 92, Evans made the number one shirt his own the following season. He scored his only regional try thus far against Leicester Tigers during the same season in the Champions Cup.

Surgery to a wrist injury in the summer of 2016, following Wales’ tour to New Zealand, kept Evans sidelined for the opening months of the 2016-17 campaign. His first appearance of the season came in early December against Zebre.

He has won 17 international caps and been named in the starting line-up on twelve occasions, after making his debut against Ireland only two years ago. His first and only international try to date came in a friendly against England in May 2016.

Commenting on his new deal Evans said; “I am really pleased to have signed a new deal with the Scarlets. The boys did well whilst we’ve been away in camp keeping us in the race for the top four and it’s great to be back at Parc y Scarlets and do all I can to help us reach that goal.

“Playing for the Scarlets is a huge honour for me, there’s a good feeling amongst the group as we push for silverware and I wanted to be part of that over the next few years.”

Scarlets General Manager of Rugby Jon Daniels added; “Rob has boundless energy both on and off the field and is someone who lives and breathes regional life. It’s getting increasingly harder to retain our best homegrown talent in Wales but we are delighted that Rob has committed his future to his home region.

“We have an exciting few months ahead as we look to secure a place in the top four of the PRO12.”