Scarlets have announced the signings of Danny Drake, Dane Blacker and Alex Jeffries ahead of the 2019/20 season.
Second-row Drake signs from New Zealand provincial side North Harbour and has been on the fringes of Super Rugby franchise the Blues.
The 24-year-old is looking forward to starting his new chapter in Wales with the Scarlets.
“I’m really excited to touch down on Welsh soil, fizzing to get stuck into the Scarlets culture and give it my all for the club and its supporters,” he said.
Meanwhile, 20-year-old scrum-half Blacker joins from the Cardiff Blues and will face stiff competition for a place in the Scarlets team where he will have to battle Gareth Davies, Kieran Hardy and Jonathan Evans for a spot.
However, the youngster is happy to have signed his first professional contract, having been given some chances at Cardiff last year to impress.
“I’m delighted to sign my first professional contract with the Scarlets. It’s an honour to be a part of an exciting club and I am looking forward to the coming season,” he said.
Jefferies, a 24-year-old tight-head prop switches the Ospreys for Scarlets, having spent three years with his former club and is excited by the future.
“I am really looking forward to the next chapter in my rugby career at the Scarlets. I’m excited to work alongside a talented group players and coaches and the opportunity to make my own mark at the club. I am also looking forward to developing my game and with the right opportunities showing what I am capable of,” he said.
The young trio will add to the host of players that have re-signed with the Welsh region recently, including the likes of Jonathan Davies, Johnny McNicholl, Rob Evans and Ken Owens.
General manager of rugby at the club Jon Daniels is glad to welcome them on board and is encouraged for what the future holds.
“Danny, Dane and Alex are talented young players who will be excellent additions to our squad. We have worked hard to ensure we have put together a group of players capable of competing for silverware and re-signing players of the calibre of Johnny McNicholl, Jon Davies, Ken Owens, Rob Evans and others have been crucial to that. We are happy with the strength of the squad we have put together, but are always open to adding further players if they are the quality and right fit that we are looking for to move the Scarlets forwards. We are looking forward to welcoming the boys back for pre-season next week,” he said.
The Scarlets will be hoping to improve after a rather disappointing season and these new editions are definitely a step in the right direction.
