Davies signs with Wales and Scarlets on Dual contract

Wales and British and Irish Lions centre Jonathan Davies will return from France and play for his home region the Scarlets after signing a National Dual Contract.

Davies missed the Rugby World Cup due to injury but has become the latest Wales international to sign a National Dual Contract (NDC).

Davies’ signature brings the total number of NDC players based in Wales to seventeen.

The 27-year-old will return to his Region of origin in Wales under the terms of the NDC, which has been jointly announced by the WRU and Scarlets today.

Davies, an established international with 48 caps for Wales and a successful Lions tour under his belt, is happy to be returning home.

“I am delighted to have signed a National Dual Contract and to be returning to the Scarlets,” he said.

“I have immensely enjoyed my time in France and would like to thank Clermont Auvergne for the opportunity.

“The joint commitment between the WRU and Regions is driving for success and I believe the time is right to return to Wales and signing a NDC is the best decision for me rugby wise.”

The Group Chief Executive of the WRU, Martyn Phillips, said: “We are delighted to have been able to bring a player of Jon’s quality home to Wales from France to play for Scarlets.

“His return demonstrates the value of the NDC’s as a means of ensuring as many of the most talented players as possible play their rugby here in Wales.

“Here in Wales our four Regions are ambitious for success and the WRU will continue to work alongside them to achieve that.”

The Chief Executive of the Scarlets, Darran Phillips, said: “We are delighted to announce that Jon Davies is returning to his home region. Jon developed through the system with us here at the Scarlets and his return to the region is further evidence of our ambition to be competitive at the highest level.”

Last week Ospreys players Scott Baldwin, James King, Dan Baker and Rory Thornton were added to the previous list of twelve NDCs.

The players already contracted were Sam Warburton, Alun Wyn Jones, Dan Biggar, Rhys Webb, Dan Lydiate, Scott Williams, Jake Ball, Samson Lee, Rhodri Jones, Tyler Morgan, Hallam Amos and Gareth Anscombe already signed up.

The National Dual Contract structure has been agreed by the WRU and the four Regions under the terms of their joint Rugby Services Agreement in order to keep the best playing talent in Wales playing for one of the four professional Welsh teams.