Pembrokeshire-born Macleod is a product of the Scarlets Academy, and has made 148 appearances for the club since his debut in 2015, establishing himself as one of the leading back-row forwards in Welsh rugby.
The 29-year-old led the Scarlets to the EPCR Challenge Cup semi-finals in 2022-23 before officially taking over leadership duties from club great Jonathan ‘Fox’ Davies the following season.
Macleod’s outstanding form in the Scarlets number seven jersey saw him gain recognition from Wales head coach Steve Tandy. A fifth Test cap being the reward against England at the start of the 2026 Six Nations.
Speaking on the new deal, Macleod said:
“The Scarlets have shaped me as a person from the moment I joined the Academy at 16. To be here now as captain is something I’ll never take lightly – it means a huge amount to me.
“This season has tested us, no doubt, but it’s also brought the group closer together. There’s a real honesty about us and a willingness to keep turning up for each other, and that’s been important.
“We’ve shown glimpses of what we’re capable of against top sides in the URC and Europe. The challenge now is turning those moments into consistency.
“There’s a lot to be excited about here – especially with the young players coming through and the direction the club is heading. We know what this badge stands for, we’re determined to do it justice every time we put the jersey on and give our supporters something to believe in.”
Interim Director of Rugby Nigel Davies said:
“Josh is not just an important player for us — he is a leader in every sense.
“He drives standards every day, he connects people, and he represents exactly what we want this team to stand for.
“As we continue to evolve our programme, having players like Josh at the core is critical. He understands what it takes to perform, but more importantly, he understands what it takes to build a team.
“Josh leads through his actions. He is brave in how he plays, connected in how he brings people together, and he has the mindset to keep pushing standards forward. Those are the qualities we are building this team around.”
The re-signing of Macleod represents a strong statement of intent as the Scarlets continue to shape a squad capable of competing at the highest level.
Davies added: “He has grown up in the region, came through our pathway and has been at the club since he was a teenager.
“He has also proven himself an outstanding competitor; he galvanises the team when he plays and is consistently one of the URC’s top performers around the breakdown. We are delighted he has committed his future to the Scarlets.”
Along with Macleod, number eight Fletcher Anderson has also signed a new deal in the last fortnight.
[Lead image: Scarlets Rugby]
