​Teenage fly-half Carwyn Leggatt-Jones has shown that his learning this season extends far beyond the classrooms of Llandovery College, after an unforeseen breakthrough with the Scarlets. At just 18, he has been with Wales Under-20s at the Junior World Championship in Georgia, as he nears two matches remaining in what has been a long and fruitful 2025-26 campaign. Leggatt-Jones had anticipated a season primarily spent with his hometown club, Carmarthen Quins, in Super Rygbi Cymru (SRC), but a surprising opportunity with the Scarlets arose and he seized it.
“It’s been unreal,” Leggatt-Jones said, reflecting on his professional debut in November and the culmination of a season in which he has made seven appearances. “It’s been a long journey, but it feels like a dream come true to represent my home region and to be part of a squad alongside some of my idols.” Fresh from signing a professional contract with the Scarlets that runs through to 2029, he is set to start against Australia on Sunday (17:30 BST).
His chance at Scarlets came as a result of Wales fly-half Sam Costelow’s recent injury and Joe Hawkins’ international duties. During the season, Leggatt-Jones has balanced URC rugby with studies in PE, psychology, and business A-levels. The Scarlets have been careful to shield one of their brightest prospects from undue pressure, yet they have also relished the opportunity for him to learn in real-time at the highest level.
“There were definitely a couple of tough periods—a charge-down against Edinburgh and some tight moments against Connacht,” he recalled. “Those are exactly the experiences I needed as a developing player. I’ve learned so much in training, just by watching Costelow and picking up little things from him. I’ve grown a lot from it.”
His first senior start for Scarlets came in a January draw at Benetton, a match played in heavy fog that nearly led to a postponement. He demonstrated his talent by sending Macs Page over for a 75th-minute leveller, only to miss a straightforward conversion rushed by the novel shot clock—an error that he says was a hard lesson in timing. “I was buzzing when we scored; it felt like we’d won the game with a few minutes left,” he explained. “Then suddenly I had five seconds to take the kick and missed it, which wasn’t ideal. It showed me I need to keep those scenarios in mind, and I won’t let that happen again.”
Leggatt-Jones’ arrival at Scarlets saw him working alongside former Wales scrum-half Gareth Davies, who is 35 and had already formed part of the region’s academy before Leggatt-Jones was even born. “He was one of my idols growing up, so it’s a bit surreal to be joking with him now,” Leggatt-Jones said. “A year and a half ago I would have been starstruck.”
The elder players within the Scarlets’ ranks have been a constant source of support, with Leggatt-Jones particularly noting the positive influence they’ve had on his development. As he continues to juggle a demanding rugby schedule with academic commitments, the young playmaker remains focused on making the most of every learning opportunity offered by a club determined to protect his potential while maximizing his on-field growth.