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Wales centre Eddie James has signed a new contract with the Scarlets, committing to the region a year before he needed to. The 24-year-old had a season still to run on his existing deal, but has extended early at a club whose long-term future has yet to be settled. “Growing up in the region and supporting the Scarlets as a youngster, the club means a huge amount to me,” James said. “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.” The length of the new deal has not been disclosed. James made his international debut in 2024 and became a Wales regular last season under head coach Steve Tandy, taking his tally to 11 caps. Director of rugby Nigel Davies said keeping him mattered as much as any arrival. “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,” Davies said. “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.” The commitment carries more weight than a routine extension would in an ordinary summer. The Welsh Rugby Union confirmed in July that Cardiff and the Dragons are guaranteed licences under its plan to cut Wales to three professional clubs from 2028-29, leaving the Scarlets and the Ospreys competing for the last place in the west. The Llanelli region has been publicly defiant since. A message to supporters under the banner ‘Yma o Hyd’ insisted the focus was unchanged, and days later managing director Jon Daniels ruled out any merger with the Ospreys and called on the union to publish the evidence behind its decision. The Ospreys have made their own case, setting out four signings, a rebuilt St Helen’s and membership sales beyond expectations, while the WRU board has stood firm against calls for all 11 of its members to resign. No decision is due until spring 2027. Against that, the Scarlets have spent the summer recruiting hard. Ten players have arrived, among them Grand Slam-winning 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 All Black Cullen Grace. James is also the latest of a long list to re-sign, following 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. Not everyone has stayed. Wales back Tom Rogers left for the Ospreys earlier in the summer, joining the region the Scarlets are competing against for survival. There has been wider uncertainty too, with a planned WRU takeover of the regional academies shelved this month after the union said it could not afford the move, leaving academy staff at the Scarlets and elsewhere in limbo. James and the rest of the Scarlets’ international contingent return to training next week. Related stories from Swansea Bay News SCARLETS: Boss rules out Ospreys merger and demands WRU publish its evidence Jon Daniels on the fight for the last west Wales licence. SCARLETS: ‘Yma o Hyd’ as club tells supporters focus is unchanged The Llanelli region’s message to its supporters. WRU: Cardiff and Dragons safe as Ospreys and Scarlets left fighting for one west Wales licence The union confirmed its three-team future starts in 2028-29. WRU: Academy takeover shelved as union says it cannot afford the move Academy staff had been expecting to transfer to the governing body. Discover more from Swansea Bay News Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.