Gareth Anscombe completes Scarlets move after leaving Bayonne
Gareth Anscombe has joined Scarlets for the new season after leaving French club Bayonne without a fresh contract over the summer. The 35-year-old fly-half made his first appearance for the region in a pre-season match against Dragons. Scarlets lost that game 80-14.
The move ends a spell in France that started promisingly but faded before the end of last season. Anscombe played 18 games for Ospreys across two seasons between 2021 and 2023. He then added 17 appearances for Gloucester during the 2024-25 campaign. He made six appearances for Bayonne in 2025-26.
Scarlets have brought in Anscombe as an experienced head to sit alongside Wales fly-half Sam Costelow and teenage prospect Carwyn Leggatt-Jones. That gives the region three contrasting options at number 10 for the season ahead. His arrival is one of several recruitment stories doing the rounds this month. Readers can catch up on the wider picture in today’s rugby union news overview.
Anscombe outlines Scarlets motivation and Bayonne exit
Speaking on the Scrum V podcast, Anscombe explained why his time at Bayonne came to an end. “I felt like with the way the season went in France, I didn’t play as much as I would have liked, particularly towards the back end,” he said.
Without a club through the summer, Anscombe made clear he still had the appetite to keep playing at the top level. “I wanted to keep playing and felt I could contribute and was hopeful something would happen,” he said.
When Scarlets came calling, he felt it offered the right environment for the next stage of his career. “I wanted to go somewhere where I could be the right fit and the Scarlets felt like that,” he said. His comments came in a wider BBC Sport interview covering his move west and his outlook for the campaign.
Mentoring role alongside Sam Costelow and Carwyn Leggatt-Jones
Anscombe was drawn to the depth already in place at fly-half. He sees himself easing the pressure on Scarlets’ younger options rather than simply competing with them for the shirt. “The squad excited me and I feel like I’ve got a nice place to fill in supporting those young guys,” he said.
He also pointed to a pattern he wants to help Costelow and Leggatt-Jones avoid. He faced similar scrutiny himself earlier in his career, as past coverage of Anscombe on this site reflects. “The issues we’ve had in the past, particularly in Wales, are that as soon as you have a good game at URC level, there’s usually an article the next day about them making a Welsh squad,” he said.
That comment speaks to how quickly expectation can build around promising Welsh fly-halves once they string together strong performances. Anscombe’s presence gives Scarlets a senior voice able to manage that pressure from inside the group. He can still push Costelow and Leggatt-Jones for a starting place.
WRU regional cuts timeline and upcoming decision
Anscombe’s arrival comes against the backdrop of Welsh Rugby Union plans to reduce the country’s four regions to three by 2028. Either Ospreys or Scarlets face the cut. A final decision on the restructuring is due next year.
Asked about the prospect, Anscombe suggested the outcome remains genuinely uncertain. The debate has dragged on for a long time. “We’ve been talking about this for so long, I equally wouldn’t be as surprised if we just make a decision in November we’re going to keep all four,” he said.
For now, Scarlets fans have a settled squad to focus on. Anscombe, Costelow and Leggatt-Jones offer three routes at fly-half. The WRU’s longer-term plans for the regional game will continue to play out over the coming year.
