Steff Evans stays at Scarlets to fight for more caps

The 25-year-old has agreed fresh terms to stay in Llanelli after turning down offers from French clubs.

Evans has won 13 caps so heading overseas would have meant putting his Test career on hold.

The speedster was called up by Wales for the uncapped international against the Barbarians in November but missed out for the Six Nations along with Dragons winger Ashton Hewitt.

Wayne Pivac is blessed with options in the back three and went with Liam Williams, Leigh Halfpenny, George North, Josh Adams, Owen Lane, Johnny McNicholl, Louis Rees-Zammit and Jonah Holmes.

However, Evans is enjoying his club rugby at the Scarlets and will aim to keep knocking on the Test door with strong displays out west.

"I am loving my rugby here at the moment so it was an easy decision to stay with the Scarlets," said Evans, a title winner in 2017.

"The coaches have built a great environment that all the players are buying into and there's a real buzz about the place at the moment.

"This is my home region, I grew up watching the Scarlets and to have made more than a 100 appearances is an achievement I am hugely proud of.

"The squad here is as strong as it has been since I have been here and I really feel there are exciting times ahead.

"The boys have been playing some great rugby this season, we are still alive in two competitions and I am looking forward to playing my part in what should be an exciting few months to come."

Evans made his Scarlets debut against Zebre in November 2014 and has scored 46 tries in 111 appearances for the region, including eight tries this season.

Scarlets general manager of rugby Jon Daniels said: "It is an indication of Steff's quality that he attracted the interest of a number of top clubs so we are obviously delighted that he has agreed a new deal to stay with the Scarlets.

"He has been a key player for us for a number of years, someone with game-changing abilities who lit up our title-winning campaign in 2016/17. He has also been in outstanding form this season.

"We are extremely proud of how many local players have come through our system to not only play professional rugby but go on and represent their country and Steff has proven his qualities at the highest level."

Liam Williams is rejoining the Scarlets from Saracens next season and Halfpenny is in contract talks.

"We have got Liam and our intention is to have Leigh as well," said Daniels. "That has been the message in our discussions with the Welsh Rugby Union around this."