Wales prop signs new Scarlets contract

NEWS: Wales international prop Kemsley Mathias has become the latest home-grown player to commit to the Scarlets.

The 25-year-old Pembrokeshire loosehead has signed a new deal to stay at Parc y Scarlets for the coming seasons, following Macs Page, Tomi Lewis, Joe Roberts, Eddie James, and Taine Plumtree in extending their stay in West Wales.

Rated as one of the brightest young front-row prospects in the country, Kemsley played his junior rugby for Narberth before coming through the Scarlets pathway. He was a member of the club’s Academy and went on to be capped by Wales Under-20s.

He made his senior debut against the Dragons in 2020 and had made 63 appearances over five seasons, winning the first of seven Wales caps in the 2023 World Cup warm-up against England.

Kemsley said: “I’m very happy to resign for another couple of years, this is my boyhood club where I grew up watching.

“It feels like we have kicked on from last season, we have play-offs to aspire to in these last couple of games, and have built a good, young squad moving forward to next season. It is an exciting squad to be part of.”

Kemsley is currently recovering from a calf issue, but is hoping to play his part in the ‘Race to the Eight’ as the Scarlets prepare for their final two matches of the regular URC season against the Lions and Sharks.

“Hopefully I will be right for South Africa and can play a part in the play-off push,” he added. “We have shown this season, in games like the Bulls at home and last weekend against Leinster, that we can produce big results. It will be brilliant if we can achieve some more knockout rugby.”

Scarlets head coach Dwayne Peel said: “Kemsley is another of our home-grown players who has come through the ranks here to represent the Scarlets and go on and play for his country.

“He is a quality young loosehead, a strong scrummager who has gone toe to toe with some of the best front-row forwards in the world in recent seasons. He also has a big work rate in the loose.

“Kems has been unfortunate with a couple of injuries, but we hope to see him back before the end of the season as we push for that play-off spot.”