Lion's son returns to Scarlets in emergency signing

The Scarlets have signed fly-half Billy McBryde ahead of their trip to Italy this Friday to take on Benetton in the United Rugby Championship.

The 29-year-old son of former Wales, and British & Irish Lions hooker Robyn, spent two seasons with the Scarlets between 2016 and 2018, making six appearances in the Anglo-Welsh Cup.

The former Wales U20 international arrives from his second spell with North Wales Super Rygbi Cymru outfit RGC, whom he joined after leaving the Scarlets, before four years with the Doncaster Knights in Champ Rugby in England.

McBryde will provide cover at fly-half for the Scarlets, who have lost Sam Costelow and Joe Hawkins to the Wales squad during the Six Nations and currently have academy fly-half Elis Price sidelined with a foot injury.

The Scarlets have not specified the length of the deal, but he will likely be thrown into action straight away with the Scarlets looking to build upon their victory over Ulster at the weekend, which saw them climb off the foot of the URC ladder.

Fixture

United Rugby Championship

Benetton

20 - 20

Full-time

Scarlets

All Stats and Data

Following the late win over a high-flying Ulster side, Scarlets director of rugby Nigel Davies said: “We have asked the boys to be brave and relentless and that’s what they were. They were brave and they have given hope.

“We had a tough second half, we couldn’t really get out of the territory, but they kept on going.

“We defended fantastically for long periods in that second half and we knew these guys are capable. When they get half a chance, half an opportunity, they can score tries like that. To take that try there, what a finish from Ellis.

“One of my key themes is understanding our DNA as a rugby team and we are at our best when we are moving the ball, we are keeping it alive and we are moving it quickly around the park.

“I have said if we are going to go down, we will go down fighting and we’ve got to be brave. We have got to be clever and smart as well.

“We have got a young back line and sometimes you will have your head in your hands, but there’s no other way that Scarlets can play and be successful.

“What this team was missing was a big win and that’s a big win against an excellent Ulster side.

“The challenge with the group is not that they are not good enough, it is getting them to believe and that result is a first step in that.”