Scarlets beef up their pack with Super Rugby's Chris Apoua

The Scarlets have bolstered their front row options ahead of the 2026-2027 United Rugby Championship campaign by signing Moana Pasifika tight-head Chris Apoua.

Auckland-born Apoua, 34, who has Samoan heritage, has scored one try in seven appearances for Moana Pasifika and has played for Northland and Southland at provincial level in New Zealand, making his debut a decade ago.

He is Scarlets Director of Rugby Nigel Davies’ eighth signing this summer and joins Wales loosehead Corey Domachowski, who moved from Cardiff when his contract ran out at the end of June.

Davies believes that Apoua, who is strong in the scrum, will bring much-needed power to the Parc y Scarlets front row and hopes he will help develop some of the Scarlets youngsters.

“Chris gives us something we’ve been very clear we need within the squad with power and physicality at tight-head. He brings experience from a different and demanding rugby environment that we believe will benefit the wider group.

“He’s a strong scrummager and a real competitor, and what particularly attracted us is what he can give us around the field. He’s a powerful ball carrier, gets himself involved in the game and has the ability to get us across the gain line.

“That’s important to how we want to play. We want a pack that can put teams under pressure at set piece but can also contribute to generating quick ball and giving our attack momentum.

“We’ve spoken a lot about creating greater competition within the squad. Nobody should feel the Scarlets jersey belongs to them and bringing Chris into the group strengthens that competition in an important position.

“Chris clearly wants to contribute to what we’re building here and lend his experience to our forward pack. We’re really looking forward to seeing what he can bring to the group.

“Developing Welsh players isn’t something we just talk about at Scarlets. We’ve demonstrated it over many years, and it remains fundamental to who we are. It will always be at the heart of this club.

“Young players need competition. They need experienced players from different rugby backgrounds around them, to be challenged every day and to understand that a Scarlets shirt has to be earned,” said Davies.

Apoua said he is looking forward to making his mark in South Wales and isn’t worried about the strong competition for places in Davies’ squad.

“I’m really excited to join the Scarlets and take on the fresh challenge of playing in the URC and EPCR competitions across Europe and South Africa.

Scarlets is a proud club with a deep history and strong values and carries a reputation in New Zealand as having super-passionate fans and a community entrenched in rugby. That’s something I want to be a part of.

“I know there’s plenty of competition in the front row and I’m looking forward to getting to work with the squad. I hope my experience will add something more to Scarlets and help the team be successful.

“There’s clearly plenty of energy and ambition around Parc y Scarlets, and I’m looking forward to the new season and making a mark,” said the front-rower.