Jake Ball announces retirement from rugby

Jake Ball, after 148 appearances in a Scarlets jersey and 50 caps for Wales, has announced he is to retire from rugby.

At the age of 34, injuries, combined with his business commitments, has persuaded Jake that the time is right to hang up his boots, bringing the curtain down on an illustrious career that has spanned more than a decade in Llanelli across two spells with the club.

“It feels like the right time. I’ve had a few head knocks, a couple of injuries. I think my body is telling me something, ” says Jake.

“I am glad I came back and gave it another go at the Scarlets. I’ve enjoyed being back in the environment and being a professional rugby player again and to be able to retire here, at the club where it all really started for me, makes it that much more special.

“My wife Christie and kids left through Covid, they never really had a chance to say goodbye. My kids have loved coming here to Parc y Scarlets and watching their dad play, they are desperate to come to games and have started playing themselves. For them to have been able to see me play and remember that is something I will treasure.”

Born in Ascot, but raised in Australia, Jake first arrived in West Wales in 2012 from Super Rugby side Western Force. A relative unknown, he started out with the Llanelli RFC Welsh Premiership side before making his Scarlets debut in a Celtic League clash against Connacht in Galway.

A physical, combative, abrasive second row with a high workrate with and without the ball, he quickly became established as a key figure in the Scarlets pack, going on to make his Test debut for Wales in 2014.

He was part of the Scarlets squad that produced a memorable run of victories on the way to the Guinness Pro12 title in 2017 and featured in the final in Dublin the following year, as well as the Champions Cup semi-final in the Irish capital.

Five years ago, in the midst of the Covid pandemic, Jake made the decision to return to his family in Australia, bringing to an end a nine-year stint with the Scarlets that saw him represent his country 50 times, be part of a Grand Slam squad and play at two Rugby World Cups.

After a couple of years in Japan, he initially retired from rugby, but then made the call to come out of retirement and head back to Llanelli for the start of the 2025-26 campaign.

Jake has played 14 matches this season, but a hand injury has prevented him reaching the 150 appearance milestone.

Instead, he and his family will say their farewells to the fans by coming onto the pitch before Saturday’s season finale against the Dragons.

“The supporters here are an awesome bunch, their passion for the team is incredible and they have been amazing to me and my family,” adds Jake.

“One game that stands out was in the Heineken Cup game against Harlequins at The Stoop when one of the fans ran onto the field after we won and started jumping all over me!

“There have been some incredible highs, the lead-up to winning the championship in 2017,  Europe the following year - that was a special time with a special group of players. I will always remember the friendships, the people who have made my time here so memorable. I can’t thank them enough.”

Jake’s focus, post rugby, will now be on his supplement business, Veritroo.

“It has been four years in the making and It’s something I am extremely passionate about,” he adds. “The company is going well, so I’ll be going back to Australia and running that full time. It is starting to take up a lot more of my time, it is exciting.

“Being back in Wales has allowed me to spend a lot more time with my family. I spent 10 months here on my own after Christie and the kids had flown back to Australia and then eight months in Japan when I wasn’t allowed to leave.

“Everyone has loved being back here, the boys are loving their rugby and they are big lads - who knows, if they are any good, they might be coming back!

“It is going to be sad to leave, I have spent half my life playing rugby.

“But it is exciting to see the young talent coming through and I’ll be keeping a close eye on the club’s progress.

“Scarlets gave me the opportunity, it is where it all started and I will forever be thankful to the club for that.”