Leggatt-Jones to Start for Scarlets After Wales U20s Release
Carwyn Leggatt-Jones made his Scarlets debut against Glasgow in November 2025.
Teenage fly-half Carwyn Leggatt-Jones has been released by Wales Under-20s to start for Scarlets against Connacht in the United Rugby Championship on Friday at 19:45 GMT.
The URC fixture is a rearranged match from round two in October, when the Llanelli side was unable to travel to Galway due to Storm Amy.
This game now clashes with the Six Nations, and none of the Scarlets' senior Wales players have been released for selection.
However, it has been decided that Leggatt-Jones will gain more from club action than by participating in the Under-20s' final fixture against Italy in Newport on Sunday at 13:00 GMT.
"With the squad as it is, it was key that he was available to us. We've given him a couple of opportunities this season and it's another chance for him to progress further."
Scarlets interim director of rugby Nigel Davies expressed the importance of Leggatt-Jones' availability for the club.
Scarlets have utilized Sam Costelow and Joe Hawkins at fly-half this season, but both players are currently with Steve Tandy's Wales squad.
This situation led to Leggatt-Jones making his first senior start against Benetton prior to the Six Nations, and he also directed play effectively against Edinburgh two weeks ago.
The Llandovery College student started the first three rounds of the junior Six Nations and came off the bench in the match against Ireland last Saturday.
"For him to keep getting minutes at the top end shows how good a player he is to be backed by his club team, and that will help his development. It's important that we don't put too much on him because he is still an 18-year-old schoolboy, but I am sure he will rip into it with the Scarlets and give a good account of himself."
Wales Under-20s head coach Richard Whiffin commented on Leggatt-Jones' ongoing development and the balance needed given his age.
Anderson to Captain Scarlets
Number eight Fletcher Anderson will captain Scarlets for the first time, taking over from club captain Josh Macleod, who has not been released by Wales despite not being selected to face Italy.
The flanker remains in the Six Nations camp along with hooker Ryan Elias, centres Joe Hawkins and Eddie James, and wings Ellis Mee, Blair Murray, and Tom Rogers. Sam Costelow is recovering from an ankle injury under the Wales conditioning staff.
Scarlets are also without loose-head prop Alec Hepburn, who has been training with Scotland this week ahead of their Triple Crown bid in Ireland.
The visitors are stretched but have been boosted by the return of centre Johnny Williams, who missed the trip to Edinburgh with a calf injury.
Macs Page switches to the left wing while Ioan Jones makes his first URC start at full-back.
Scarlets would climb above Dragons into 14th place with a victory in Galway.
Connacht would leapfrog Ospreys into ninth place, and a bonus-point victory would move them level with Bulls in the last play-off spot.
The Irish province, fresh from a last-play win against Glasgow, are without centre Bundee Aki, back row forward Cian Prendergast, and props Finlay Bealham and Billy Bohan due to Ireland duty.
Outside centre John Devine, who made his debut off the bench against Montpellier in January, will make his first start.
Team Lineups
Connacht: Gilbert; Jennings, Devine, Forde, Mullins; Ioane, Reilly; Buckley, Tierney-Martin, Aungier, O'Connor, Joyce, J Murphy, Boyle (capt), Jansen.
Replacements: de Buitlear, Dooley, Barrett, Murray, O'Brien, B Murphy, Naughton, McCormack.
Scarlets: I Jones; J Davies, Roberts, Williams, Page; Leggatt-Jones, G Davies; Mathias, van der Merwe, Henry Thomas, Lousi, Ball, Douglas, Taylor, Anderson (capt).
Replacements: Harry Thomas, S O'Connor, H O'Connor, Price, Davis, A Hughes, McDonald, Lewis.
Referee: Ru Campbell (Scotland)
Assistants: Padraic Reidy, Tomas O'Sullivan (Ireland)
TMO: Andrew McMenemy (Scotland)
