Joe Hawkins on the verge of Wales return as Scarlets close in
The Scarlets are closing in on the signing of Wales international Joe Hawkins from Exeter Chiefs.
Dwayne Peel's side are losing Ioan Lloyd to Cardiff at the end of the season and WalesOnline understands Hawkins will be signed as his replacement. The 22-year-old was considered one of the brightest prospects in Welsh rugby before leaving the Ospreys for Exeter in 2023.
At the time Welsh rugby was in financial turmoil, with the Welsh Rugby Union and its four professional sides - Cardiff, Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets - locked in negotiations over a new agreement which resulted in a contractual freeze at the time. With wages getting driven down, Hawkins understandably wanted to secure his future and took up a contract in England.
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But Hawkins fell foul of the Professional Rugby Board's controversial 25-cap law and was prevented from playing for Wales despite his representatives insisting the contract had been signed before he had won his first of his five Wales caps. At the time Hawkins was a key part of Warren Gatland's plans but his move to Exeter put an end to his Rugby World Cup dream.
Hawkins has found it tough going at Exeter over the past two seasons, with the Wales international struggling for regular game time. But the former Ospreys star is a very talented footballer with a strong physical presence.
Hawkins is a triple-threat player with tons of peripheral vision who is also a threat with ball in hand. The 22-year-old also has a kicking game and his skillset is easily transferable to the number 10 jersey.
Hawkins has played the majority of his rugby at centre but is seen as an outside-half by the Wales management. As far as the Scarlets are concerned Hawkins would suit their brand of rugby and, while he can cover various positions, he will compete with Sam Costelow for the number 10 jersey.
Hawkins' return to Wales will no doubt catapult him straight into the international equation and it is understood Gatland was keen to select the talented playmaker in his Six Nations squad, but he had not signed for a Welsh club by the time of his squad announcement.
If the deal is completed Hawkins will join an exciting Scarlets backline which also includes the likes of Eddie James, Macs Page, Joe Roberts, Blair Murray, Ellis Mee and Tom Rogers, among others.
