Hawkins eligible for Wales after Scarlets signing

Joe Hawkins will be able to resume his international career after signing for Scarlets from Exeter for the 2025-26 season.

The Wales centre can also play at fly-half and will aim to help Scarlets fill the void left by Ioan Lloyd, who will join Cardiff next season.

Hawkins, 22, became ineligible for international selection after choosing to play his club rugby outside Wales when he left Ospreys to join Exeter in 2023.

He will now be able to be picked again after linking up with Dwayne Peel's Scarlets squad.

"I'm looking forward to being back home in Wales with the Scarlets and doing my best to add to an already exciting young squad," said Hawkins.

"Having watched the team and speaking with Dwayne, the attractive brand of rugby they play is something I want to be a part of and plays to my strengths.

"I'm excited to get started at Parc y Scarlets, play in front of the passionate supporters and push on in my career."

The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU), with the agreement of Wales' four professional sides, brought in a ruling in 2017 that those playing club rugby outside Wales were required to have 60 caps to represent their country, with the number dropping to 25 in February 2023.

The rule was initially brought in to try to keep top players in Wales and was dubbed 'Gatland's Law', although former Wales head coach Warren Gatland has since insisted he never agreed with the policy.

Hawkins first appeared for Wales Under-20s at the age of 17 and made his senior debut against Australia in November 2022.

He played five internationals, with Gatland selecting him for all but one match of the 2023 Six Nations.

Amid the drastic cost-cutting by Wales' professional regions in the 2022-23 season, Hawkins departed from Ospreys to Exeter, meaning he then became ineligible for international selection.

As a result, Hawkins missed the 2023 World Cup in France as well as two Six Nations campaigns.

Hawkins, whose Chiefs contract expires at the end of this season, played 21 games for Exeter in his first year but has slipped down the centre pecking order during this second campaign.

The Swansea-born back has played almost all of his professional rugby at inside centre but former Wales coach Gatland says he saw the player as a potential international fly-half option.

Peel believes Hawkins versatility will be an asset for his side.

"Joe is a player of big potential and we are delighted to bring him home and to the Scarlets," said Peel.

"I'm looking forward to welcoming him and seeing him flourish in the Scarlets shirt.

"He is a player who has the ability to play in a number of positions and is proof we are building a young, exciting team that wants to compete.

"From my conversations with Joe, it is clear he is a dedicated individual with a winning mentality."

Scarlets have already announced the re-signings of young backs Macs Page and Tomi Lewis.