Ioan Lloyd has arrived at the Scarlets with two big targets – playing No.10 and forcing his way back into the Wales set-up.
The twice-capped 22-year-old had the opportunity to stay at Bristol – who he had been with since 2018 – but signing a new contract would have made him ineligible for international duty under the WRU's 25-cap rule.
So the young man who was born and raised in Cardiff has headed across the bridge and down west to Llanelli.
“My biggest dream has always been to play for Wales and the opportunity to come back into Wales and play for a club like the Scarlets was just too good to turn down,” he explained.
“I looked at the gameplan Dwayne Peel (right) is putting together and it really appealed to me. I feel like it benefits my game and I'm very excited to be here. It's closer to home for me as well, which is nice. I can get mam's cooking again and all that!”
During his time with Bristol, the ultra versatile Lloyd featured in every position behind the scrum apart from No.9, but he is clear where he sees his future lying.
“No 10 is my main position and that's the one I want to play,” he said.
“As a fly-half, you need to know what everybody else on the pitch is doing.
So playing in different positions over the last couple of years, I have been able to see things through other people's eyes and hopefully that makes me a better player.
“The rich history of 10s here at the Scarlets is unbelievable. To be able to put on that jersey and try and put my own little mark on it, I can't wait.”
Lloyd's desire to play outside-half will see him competing with Sam Costelow who is currently away with Wales at the World Cup.
“Sam is an unbelievable player,” Lloyd said. “He's someone I have played with a lot through the years at age-grade. Hopefully we can benefit each other a ndhelp each other out and I can learn a lot off him and maybe he will learn a bit off me. I am excited for that dynamic and to challenge each other.”
It was during the autumn of 2020 that the then 19-year-old Lloyd was fast-tracked into the Wales squad, making his Test debut as a replacement full-back against Georgia and then having a further outing there off the bench versus Italy. Since then, he has slipped out of the reckoning.
“It went very quickly. It does feel like quite a long time ago now,” he admits.
“I've reflected a lot more now on it. I learned so much through doing that, by getting that experience. It highlighted elements of my game that I have worked on since.
“At the time, I was definitely not an international player, but it gave me the confidence that if I work hard enough, I can get there. I've worked a lot on my defence, my decision-making and my game management since then.
“I feel like I have had to grow up quite a lot over the last few years, which has been good.”
Lloyd has also bulked out, having gone up from the 82kgs mark (12st 9lbs) when he first started at Bristol to around 92kgs (14st 5lbs) today.
Now, with a new frame and a new side, his ambitions are evident.
“I still very much want to play for Wales. Getting into the Six Nations squad would definitely be my target,” he says.
