SCARLETS: Burry Port’s McDonald signs new deal after standout summer

Gabe McDonald has signed a new contract with the Scarlets, the latest home-grown back to commit to the region after a summer that caught the coaches’ eye.

The 21-year-old centre scored his first Scarlets try and landed three conversions in last weekend’s pre-season win over Exeter, and starts against Dragons RFC at Llandovery on Friday night.

A Burry Port product, McDonald came through Ysgol y Strade and Coleg Sir Gâr before shining for Scarlets U18s and earning a senior academy contract.

The Wales Under-19s cap has been a powerful midfield presence for Carmarthen Quins in Super Rygbi Cymru, and is now pushing for more senior opportunities.

He made his senior Scarlets debut against Exeter two years ago and stepped up to the United Rugby Championship last season, featuring in the home win over Glasgow Warriors and away to Connacht in Galway.

A grandmother, a season ticket and a new deal

For McDonald, the signing carries a family history.

“When I was younger, my grandmother used to take me to every home Scarlets game. We had season tickets every year, and I’m chuffed to have signed a new contract with the club,” he said.

“For me, it’s about working hard on developing my game, and being able to train every day alongside the international centres we have here at the Scarlets is driving me on to achieve those levels.

“Exeter was a good step for us as a team. We played with ambition, put into the game a lot of the things we’ve been working on, and it was obviously a great feeling to get my first Scarlets try.”

McDonald is one of a clutch of players to have signed new deals ahead of the 2026-27 campaign, a list that includes Eddie James, Josh Macleod, Gareth Davies, Dan Davis, Sam Lousi, Harri O’Connor, Jac Davies, Will Evans and Carwyn Leggatt-Jones.

‘It has to be earned’

Director of rugby Nigel Davies said the centre’s development spoke to the region’s wider aim of building squad depth from within.

“Gabe has some really good natural attributes. He’s powerful, he can carry, he’s got good skills, and he understands the game. What has impressed us this summer is the work he’s put into some of the more subtle parts of his game,” said Davies.

“Sometimes player development isn’t about making huge changes. It’s about understanding the small things that can make the qualities you already have more effective, your positioning, decision-making, timing, what you do without the ball.

“Gabe is another player who has come through our regional pathway, and that’s something that remains hugely important to us. We want talented players from within our communities to see a genuine route into the Scarlets senior team, and that opportunity has to be earned.”

McDonald starts in the centres for Friday’s second pre-season fixture at Llandovery (7pm kick-off), with the Scarlets opening their BKT United Rugby Championship season at home to Cardiff on Saturday 26 September.