Ioan Nicholas signs new Scarlets contract

As Scarlets continue their preparations for the 2025-26 season, versatile back Ioan Nicholas has extended his stay at the club with a new contract.

Nicholas was once the youngest ever player to represent the Scarlets when he featured against Jersey Reds at the age of seventeen, but having turned 27 in April, he is now one of the senior members of Dwayne Peel’s squad.

Last season, he joined the Scarlets ‘Hundred Club’, reaching a century of appearances against Aviron Bayonnais. He currently has 110 to his name.

Nicholas was named Supporters’ Player of the Season in 2023-24 and backed that up by playing 16 matches last term, scoring four tries.

Able to play full-back, wing or centre, he has become a vital cog in the Scarlets backline.

Catching up with Ioan during the rigours of pre-season, he said: “It’s nice to be back in after a bit of a break. We have just finished the first couple of weeks of pre-season and it has been tough, especially with the heat being a big factor early on.

“There are a lot of new faces, from the academy and from other clubs - it has been a nice ‘freshen up’ and everyone is excited for the next few weeks.”

Asked about his senior status in the squad, Nicholas added: “I still feel like one of the younger boys, but I suppose I am leaning towards that having been here around 10 years now!

“I am still enjoying my rugby and looking forward to building on what we achieved last season, making the top eight of the URC and qualifying for the Champions Cup.

“We have some massive fixtures to look forward to - Munster to kick-off the season and then the likes of Bristol and Bordeaux in the Champions Cup, it is exciting for us and for the fans as well.”

Scarlets head coach Dwayne Peel said: “Iowz is a player who is the heartbeat of the squad, someone who contributes a massive amount on and off the field, performance-wise and to our culture.

“He is an accomplished player across the back division who delivers consistent performances week on week.

“It is clear the club means a lot to him, you could see that when he made his 100th appearance last season. He is vocal around the place and popular around the group. It is great that another home-grown player has recommitted to the club.”

Ioan joins Macs Page, Tomi Lewis, Eddie James, Joe Roberts, Sam Costelow, Kemsley Mathias, Taine Plumtree, Johnny Williams and Sam O’Connor in penning fresh senior deals.

Scarlets have also signed Wales internationals Jake Ball and Joe Hawkins, scrum-half Dane Blacker, back-rower Tristan Davies and Welsh-qualified England U20s full-back Ioan Jones ahead of the 2025-26 campaign.

Ioan Nicholas yn ymrwymo i’r Scarlets o flaen dechreuad y tymor newydd

Wrth i’r Scarlets barhau gyda pharatoadau tymor 2025-26, mae’r olwr amryddawn Ioan Nicholas yn ymestyn ei aros gyda’r clwb gyda chytundeb newydd.

Ar un adeg Nicholas oedd y chwaraewr ifancaf erioed i gynrychioli’r Scarlets pan ymddangosodd yn erbyn Jersey Reds yn Undeg saith mlwydd oed, ac wedi nawr troi’n 27 ym mis Ebrill, mae’n nawr yn cael ei adnabod fel un o chwaraewyr hŷn carfan Dwayne Peel.

Tymor diwethaf, fe ymunodd â Chlwb Cant y Scarlets, gan gyrraedd 100 o ymddangosiadau yn ystod gêm yn erbyn Aviron Bayonnais. Erbyn hyn mae ganddo 110 o ymddangosiadau i’w enw.

Cafodd Nicholas ei enwi’n Chwaraewr y Cefnogwyr yn nhymor 2023-24 ac fe serenodd yn ystod y tymor ddiwethaf gan chwarae mewn 16 o gemau, a chroesi am bedair cais.

Yn gallu chwarae fel cefnwr, canolwr neu ar yr asgell, mae Ioan wedi datblygu i fod yn chwaraewr craidd ymysg yr olwyr.

Wrth ddal lan gyda Ioan yn ystod ymarferion yr haf, fe ddywedodd: “Mae’n braf i fod nôl ar ôl ychydig o amser bant. I ni newydd orffen yr wythnosau cyntaf o ymarferion ac mae wedi profi’n heriol, yn enwedig gyda’r tywydd twym.

“Mae llawer o wynebau newydd, o’r academi ac o glybiau eraill - mae’n newid da ac mae pawb yn edrych ymlaen at yr wythnosau nesaf.”

Wrth ofyn am ei statws fel chwaraewr hŷn y garfan, dywedodd: Dwi dal i deimlo fel un o’r chwaraewyr ifanc, ond er hynny dwi wedi bod yma tua 10 mlynedd erbyn nawr!

“Dwi dal i fwynhau chwarae yma ac yn edrych ymlaen at adeiladu ar yr hyn wnaethom ni gyflawni tymor diwethaf, gorffen yn yr wyth uchaf o’r URC a chwarae yng Nghwpan Pencampwyr tymor nesaf.

“Mae gemau enfawri edrych ymlaen at chwarae - Munster i gychwyn y tymor a wedyn chwarae timau fel Bristol a Bordeaux yng Nghwpan Pencampwyr, mae’n gyffrous iawn i ni ac i’r cefnogwyr.”

Dywedodd prif hyfforddwr y Scarlets Dwayne Peel: “Iowz yw curiad calon y garfan, yn rhywun sydd yn cyfrannu’n fawr ar ac oddi ar y cae, yn ei berfformiad ac yn ein diwylliant fel clwb.

“Gallwch ddibynu arno i berfformio’n gyson ar lefel uchel wythnos ar ôl wythnos.

“Yn amlwg mae’r clwb yn golygu llawer iddo, gallwch weld hynny pan aeth ymlaen i wneud ei 100fed ymddangosiad tymor diwethaf. Mae’n chwaraewr sydd yn gallu rhannu barn ac yn boblogaidd gyda’r grwp. Mae’n wych i weld chwaraewr lleol arall yn aros gyda’r clwb.”

Mae Ioan yn ymuno â Macs Page, Tomi Lewis, Eddie James, Joe Roberts, Sam Costelow, Kemsley Mathias, Taine Plumtree, Johnny Williams a Sam O’Connor wrth arwyddo cytundebau newydd.

Mae’r Scarlets hefyd wedi arwyddo chwaraewyr rhyngwladol Jake Ball a Joe Hawkins, y mewnwr Dane Blacker, chwaraewr rheng ôl Tristan Davies a’r chwaraewr D20 Lloegr Ioan Jones o flaen ymgyrch 2025-26.