Scarlets announce signing of Wales international Ioan Lloyd from Bristol

The 22-year-old won two Wales caps during the 2020 Autumn Nations Series.

Ioan Lloyd (centre) has agreed a move to the Scarlets from Bristol (Simon Galloway/PA)

(PA Archive)

Scarlets have announced the signing of Wales international Ioan Lloyd from Gallagher Premiership club Bristol.

Lloyd, who has played across the back division during his four-year stint at Ashton Gate, will move to west Wales ahead of next season.

The 22-year-old won two caps as a replacement during the Autumn Nations Series in 2020.

Scarlets head coach Dwayne Peel said: “Ioan is a high-quality player with a huge amount of talent, a ball player with the ability to break the line and take on defences.

“He is a player who we feel will fit well with the way we look to play here, and we are looking forward to welcoming him in the summer.”

Had Lloyd not moved to a Welsh team, he would have been ineligible for his country as players plying their trade outside the country require a minimum of 25 caps under current selection policy.

Bristol rugby director Pat Lam added: “With Ioan’s contract expiring in the summer and the 25-cap rule in place in Wales, he had to make a tough decision about his future.

“While we were keen for Ioan to stay, the move back to Wales to play club rugby protects his international ambitions and we as a club support him and want him to be successful.”