Scarlets sign New Zealand lock Tom Allen

Scarlets have completed the signing of highly-rated New Zealand lock Tom Allen, who will join the club ahead of the 2026-27 season from Super Rugby Pacific champions the Hurricanes.

 

 

The 21-year-old arrives in West Wales after emerging through one of New Zealand's most respected player development systems and joins the Scarlets fresh from a dominant title-winning season with the Hurricanes, who lifted their first Super Rugby championship trophy in 10 years.

 

 

A product of the renowned Hastings Boys' High School rugby programme, Allen represented New Zealand Under-20s across two seasons before progressing through the Hawke's Bay Academy and into the Hurricanes' professional environment. He has also gained valuable experience in New Zealand's fiercely competitive National Provincial Championship.

 

 

Standing 6ft 6in, Allen is an athletic, physical second row renowned for his work rate, lineout ability and appetite to improve - qualities that made him a standout recruitment target for Scarlets Director of Rugby Nigel Davies.

 

 

Davies believes Allen has all the attributes to thrive in West Wales.

"We are delighted to welcome Tom to the Scarlets. He's young, ambitious, positive and comes through one of the best player development systems in world rugby.

 

 

"He has already experienced professional rugby in New Zealand, represented his country at Under-20 level and been part of an outstanding Hurricanes programme that has just won the Super Rugby title. Those experiences have given him an excellent platform, created a professional elite mindset and we firmly believe his best rugby is still ahead of him.

 

 

"What really impressed us throughout the recruitment process was his hunger to improve. He embraces challenge, wants to learn and is excited by the opportunity to test himself in a new environment. Those are exactly the qualities we want to add within this squad.

 

 

"Our recruitment is about more than simply adding players in certain positions. We are bringing in people who culturally will also strengthen the environment through their professionalism, ambition and work ethic. Tom fits that profile perfectly and will add further quality and competition to an already strong group of second rows."

 

 

Allen is relishing the opportunity to begin the next chapter of his career and moving to West Wales.

 

 

"Joining the Scarlets is an opportunity I'm incredibly excited about. I've heard so many positive things about the club, the supporters and the style of rugby played at Parc y Scarlets. It feels like the perfect place to continue developing as both a player and a person as well as gaining valuable new experiences in rugby.

 

 

"Growing up in New Zealand, you understand the history, values and tradition of clubs like the Scarlets. There's a real pride in the jersey, passionate support and that's something I recognise and respect and want to be part of.

 

 

"I'm looking forward to working with the coaches, learning from the experienced players already in the squad and doing everything I can to earn the respect of my new teammates and Scarlets supporters. I am excited to get to Llanelli, be part of West Wales rugby and add to the club’s future success.”

 

Allen becomes the latest addition to a Scarlets squad that continues to blend proven experience with some of the most exciting emerging talent from Wales and overseas as the club builds towards the future.

 

 

His arrival further strengthens the club's second-row options, adding athleticism, depth and long-term potential ahead of the new campaign.

 

 

Other Scarlets players to have penned new deals are Fletcher Anderson, Josh Macleod, Gareth Davies, Dan Davis, Sam Lousi and Harri O’Connor.

 

 

New recruits include prop Corey Domachowski, second rows Harvey Cuckson and Alex Groves, hookers John McKee and George Roberts, full-back Isaac Murray-Macgregor and All Black Cullen Grace.

The Scarlets are looking forward to welcoming supporters back to Parc y Scarlets for the opening home fixture of the 2026-27 BKT United Rugby Championship season on Saturday September 26 (kick off 7.45pm) against Cardiff Rugby.

Scarlets yn arwyddo'r clo o Seland Newydd Tom Allen

Mae'r Scarlets wedi llofnodi clo o Seland Newydd, Tom Allen, a fydd yn ymuno â'r clwb cyn tymor 2026-27 o bencampwyr Super Rugby Pacific yr Hurricanes.

 

Mae'r chwaraewr 21 oed yn cyrraedd Gorllewin Cymru ar ôl datblygu yn un o systemau mwyaf uchel eu parch Seland Newydd ac yn ymuno â'r Scarlets yn dilyn tymor llwyddiannus gyda'r Hurricanes, a gododd tlws pencampwriaeth Super Rugby am y tro cyntaf mewn 10 mlynedd.

 

Yn gynnyrch rhaglen rygbi Ysgol Bechgyn Hastings, cynrychiolodd Allen Seland Newydd ar lefel D20 dros ddau dymor cyn symud ymlaen trwy Academi Hawke's Bay ac i amgylchedd proffesiynol yr Hurricanes. Mae hefyd wedi ennill profiad gwerthfawr ym Mhencampwriaeth Daleithiol Genedlaethol Seland Newydd.

 

Yn sefyll 6 troedfedd 6 modfedd, mae Allen yn chwaraewr ail reng athletaidd, corfforol sy'n enwog am ei gyfradd waith, ei dawn yn y llinell a'i awydd i wella - rhinweddau a'i gwnaeth yn darged recriwtio amlwg i Gyfarwyddwr Rygbi'r Scarlets, Nigel Davies.

 

Mae Davies yn credu bod gan Allen yr holl briodoleddau i ffynnu yng Ngorllewin Cymru.

"Rydym wrth ein bodd yn croesawu Tom i'r Scarlets. Mae'n ifanc, yn uchelgeisiol, yn bositif ac yn dod trwy un o'r systemau datblygu chwaraewyr gorau yn rygbi'r byd.

 

"Mae eisoes wedi profi rygbi proffesiynol yn Seland Newydd, wedi cynrychioli ei wlad ar lefel Dan-20 ac wedi bod yn rhan o raglen ragorol yr Hurricanes sydd newydd ennill teitl Super Rugby. Mae'r profiadau hynny wedi rhoi llwyfan rhagorol iddo, wedi creu meddylfryd proffesiynol elitaidd ac rydym yn credu'n gryf bod ei rygbi gorau o'i flaen o hyd.

 

"Yr hyn a wnaeth argraff fawr arnom drwy gydol y broses recriwtio oedd ei awydd i wella. Mae'n croesawu her, eisiau dysgu ac yn gyffrous am y cyfle i brofi ei hun mewn amgylchedd newydd. Dyna'n union y rhinweddau yr ydym am eu hychwanegu o fewn y garfan hon.

 

"Mae ein recriwtio yn ymwneud â mwy na dim ond ychwanegu chwaraewyri. Rydym yn dod â phobl i mewn a fydd yn cryfhau'r amgylchedd trwy eu proffesiynoldeb, eu huchelgais a'u hethos gwaith." Mae Tom yn ffitio'r proffil hwnnw'n berffaith a bydd yn ychwanegu rhagor o ansawdd a chystadleuaeth at grŵp cryf o chwaraewyr ail reng."

 

Mae Allen yn mwynhau'r cyfle i ddechrau'r bennod nesaf yn ei yrfa a symud i Orllewin Cymru.

 

"Mae ymuno â'r Scarlets yn gyfle rwy'n hynod gyffrous amdano. Rwyf wedi clywed cymaint o bethau cadarnhaol am y clwb, y cefnogwyr a'r arddull rygbi a chwaraeir ym Mharc y Scarlets. Mae'n teimlo fel y lle perffaith i barhau i ddatblygu fel chwaraewr a pherson yn ogystal ag ennill profiadau newydd gwerthfawr mewn rygbi.

 

"Wrth dyfu i fyny yn Seland Newydd, rydych chi'n deall hanes, gwerthoedd a thraddodiad clybiau fel y Scarlets. Mae balchder yn y crys, cefnogaeth angerddol ac mae hynny'n rhywbeth rwy'n ei gydnabod a'i barchu ac eisiau bod yn rhan ohono.

 

"Rwy'n edrych ymlaen at weithio gyda'r hyfforddwyr, dysgu gan y chwaraewyr profiadol sydd eisoes yn y garfan a gwneud popeth yn fy ngallu i ennill parch fy nghyd-chwaraewyr newydd a chefnogwyr y Scarlets. Rwy'n gyffrous i gyrraedd Llanelli, bod yn rhan o rygbi Gorllewin Cymru ac ychwanegu at lwyddiant y clwb yn y dyfodol."

 

Allen yw'r ychwanegiad diweddaraf at garfan y Scarlets sy'n parhau i gyfuno profiad profedig â rhai o'r talentau mwyaf cyffrous sy'n dod i'r amlwg o Gymru a thramor wrth i'r clwb adeiladu tuag at y dyfodol.

 

Mae ei ddyfodiad yn cryfhau opsiynau ail reng y clwb ymhellach, gan ychwanegu athletiaeth, dyfnder a photensial hirdymor cyn yr ymgyrch newydd.

 

Chwaraewyr eraill y Scarlets sydd wedi llofnodi cytundebau newydd yw Fletcher Anderson, Josh Macleod, Gareth Davies, Dan Davis, Sam Lousi a Harri O’Connor.

 

Mae recriwtiaid newydd yn cynnwys y prop Corey Domachowski, yr ail reng Harvey Cuckson ac Alex Groves, y bachwyr John McKee a George Roberts, y cefnwr Isaac Murray-Macgregor a'r All Black Cullen Grace.

 

Mae'r Scarlets yn edrych ymlaen at groesawu cefnogwyr yn ôl i Barc y Scarlets ar gyfer gêm gartref agoriadol tymor Pencampwriaeth Rygbi BKT United 2026-27 ddydd Sadwrn Medi 26 (cic gyntaf 7.45pm) yn erbyn Rygbi Caerdydd.