Wales international centre Eddie James has agreed a new contract with Scarlets, committing his future to the region despite still having a year left on his previous deal. The 24-year-old, who has won 11 caps since making his Test debut in 2024, said the decision to stay was straightforward given his lifelong connection to the club.
James has made 53 appearances for Scarlets and became a regular fixture in Steve Tandy's Wales squad during the 2025-26 season. The length of his new agreement has not been made public.
Why did James choose to stay at Scarlets?
James said his roots in the region made extending his contract an obvious choice, having supported the club as a child before going on to represent it professionally.
Growing up in the region and supporting the Scarlets as a youngster, the club means a huge amount to me. It's home and so it was an easy decision to extend my contract and I am delighted to be staying on at Parc y Scarlets.
Has James signed with Scarlets before?
This is not the first time James has renewed his terms with the region. According to a BBC report from March 2025, James signed a contract extension alongside teammates Macs Page, Tomi Lewis and Joe Roberts when he was 22 years old and had made 37 appearances for the club at that stage. His appearance tally has since climbed to 53, reflecting his growing role within the squad over the past year.
What did Scarlets' director of rugby say?
Nigel Davies, the club's director of rugby, said retaining homegrown talent such as James was central to the region's long-term strategy.
Keeping Eddie at Parc y Scarlets is a significant signing for our club and we are delighted he will continue his rugby journey with us. Having players like Eddie at the heart of what we're building is as important as new players coming into the squad. We're proud of our ethos of developing our own players and we want to give our young Welsh players an environment in which they know they can achieve their ambitions in a Scarlets jersey.
Who else has signed new deals?
James joins a lengthy list of players who have committed to Scarlets ahead of the 2026-27 campaign, including Fletcher Anderson, Josh Macleod, Henry Thomas, Gareth Davies, Dan Davis, Sam Lousi, Harri O'Connor, Jac Davies, Will Evans, Carwyn Leggatt-Jones and Gabe Hawley. The region has also brought in 10 new recruits, among them fly-half Gareth Anscombe, props Chris Apoua and Corey Domachowski, second rows Harvey Cuckson, Alex Groves and Tom Allen, hookers John McKee and George Roberts, full-back Isaac Murray-Macgregor and former All Black Cullen Grace, all of whom are set to arrive in Llanelli.
A separate report on Scarlets' contract renewals notes that James was among a group of players who had already signed fresh deals for the 2025-26 season, underlining the club's ongoing effort to secure key Welsh talent across successive rounds of contract negotiations.
What happens next for James and Scarlets?
James and Scarlets' other internationals are due back in training next week as preparations continue for the new season. A WalesOnline report from April 2026 indicated James had been sidelined by a shoulder injury but was expected to return for a Welsh derby against Cardiff. According to Scarlets' official player listings, the region's upcoming fixtures include matches against Dragons, Section Paloise, Northampton Saints and Ulster, which are likely to shape James' path back into the starting side if he is available.
Key Facts
- Eddie James has signed a new contract with Scarlets despite having a year remaining on his previous deal.
- The 24-year-old has 11 Wales caps and 53 appearances for Scarlets.
- He previously extended his Scarlets contract in March 2025 alongside Macs Page, Tomi Lewis and Joe Roberts, when he had made 37 appearances.
- Scarlets have signed 10 new players, including Gareth Anscombe and former All Black Cullen Grace, ahead of 2026-27.
- James was reportedly returning from a shoulder injury in April 2026 ahead of a derby against Cardiff.
