Scarlets captain Josh Macleod has extended his stay at the club after signing a new contract with the Welsh side.

The Wales international, who hails from Pembrokeshire and is a product of the Scarlets Academy, has made 148 appearances for the club since his debut in 2015.

Macleod became Scarlets captain in 2023, taking over from Jonathan Davies.

“The Scarlets has shaped me as a person from the moment I joined the Academy at 16,” Macleod said. “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.”

Currently injured, the 29-year-old won his fifth cap for Wales against England at the start of the Six Nations, but is expected to return to action in the coming weeks.

Macleod added: “It’s been frustrating being sidelined the last couple of weeks – you always want to be out there with the boys, especially at this stage of the season.

“I’m not far away now and working hard to get back. Hopefully I can play my part towards the end of the season. If we can build a bit of momentum, it gives us a solid platform going into pre-season and into next year.”

Scarlets have now secured the services of key back rowers Macleod and number 8 Fletcher Anderson ahead of next season, despite the imminent departures of Tom Rogers and Marnus van der Merwe to Ospreys and Munster respectively.

“Josh is not just an important player for us — he is a leader in every sense,” interim Director of Rugby Nigel Davies said.

“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.”

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