SCARLETS: Grand Slam winner Anscombe joins for new URC season

The Scarlets have signed Wales international fly-half Gareth Anscombe ahead of the 2026-27 season.

The 35-year-old arrives in Llanelli after a season with Bayonne in France’s Top 14, and trained with his new team-mates for the first time at Parc y Scarlets on Tuesday.

Anscombe won 42 caps for Wales and was part of the 2019 Six Nations Grand Slam side. Born in New Zealand, he played Super Rugby for the Blues and Chiefs before moving to Wales.

His club career has taken in Cardiff, Gloucester and, pointedly for west Wales rugby, the Ospreys. He now crosses the Loughor to join their fiercest rivals.

The signing sharpens the battle for the number 10 shirt, where Sam Costelow is joined by Elis Price and rising Wales U20 fly-half Carwyn Leggatt-Jones.

Director of rugby Nigel Davies said every recruitment decision started with one question. “Does this make us better? And we believe Gareth unquestionably does,” he said.

Davies said the fly-half position shaped everything around it. “His ability to control games, make good decisions under pressure and lead a team in the game is invaluable,” he added.

The Scarlets boss also pointed to what the veteran would pass on. “Having someone of Gareth’s calibre working alongside Sam, Carwyn, Elis and the rest of our squad every day will accelerate learning and raise standards throughout the programme,” he said.

Anscombe said he arrived with no interest in making up the numbers. “I still have a huge desire to compete and to contribute on the field and help the team win matches,” he said. “Competition brings the best out of players and that’s exactly what I want.”

The fly-half said the club’s direction persuaded him. “From speaking with the Scarlets coaching group, I was really impressed by the energy and focus here and where this club wants to go,” he said. “There is a clear vision, there’s an exciting group of players and I wanted to be part of that journey.”

Anscombe is the latest arrival in a busy summer of recruitment, which this month included Hurricanes lock Tom Allen.

Other new faces include prop Corey Domachowski, second rows Harvey Cuckson and Alex Groves, hookers John McKee and George Roberts, full-back Isaac Murray-Macgregor and All Black Cullen Grace.

Eleven players have signed new deals, among them Josh Macleod, Henry Thomas, Gareth Davies, Sam Lousi and Will Evans.

The spending comes at a club that ended last season with £5,380 in the bank, though the region has said new investment has been secured from within its funding group.

It also comes with the club’s long-term future still unresolved. The Scarlets this month became the last club to sign Welsh rugby’s new deal, which funds four professional teams until 2028/29 before the WRU cuts to three.