Ioan Nicholas to Mark 100th Scarlets Appearance in European Challenge Cup Opener

Full-back Ioan Nicholas, who became the youngest player to represent Scarlets during a pre-season friendly against Jersey in August 2015, is set to reach a significant career milestone. As the Scarlets’ European Challenge Cup campaign commences this weekend with an away fixture against French club Bayonne, the 26-year-old full-back will achieve his 100th appearance for the Welsh region on Saturday. Head coach Dwayne Peel expressed his enthusiasm for Nicholas’s accomplishment. Peel shared his sentiments, stating: “It’s fantastic for him. I think he’s the youngest ever Scarlet to wear the shirt, and he’s still a relatively young man,” Peel said.”He’s been a player for us who has been really reliable, a consistent performer. He’s a very fond member and is very liked within our group. I’m delighted for him. I know his family personally, having grown up in the same area as them and they are great people. “They’ll be delighted with his achievements, and for us it’s great we can honour those achievements with performances and this game [against Bayonne] is an added part to it that we can hopefully get a win and that we can celebrate with him on Saturday night.” Peel further noted that the upcoming away trip might offer Nicholas an opportunity for additional rest, remarking: “He has recently become a father for the first time, so he’s had a busy few weeks, so I think he’s looking forward to going away to be able to sleep,” Peel added. Nicholas, who set the record as the youngest player to represent Scarlets at 17 years and 134 days during a pre-season friendly against Jersey in August 2015, has been selected for the Scarlets team, which features 10 alterations for their journey to the south of France. Nicholas himself commented on the upcoming game and his personal life: “[Daughter] Loti has arrived, so nice timing for my 100th appearance,” Nicholas said.”It’s a massive achievement for me and obviously I’m very proud, and my family are all looking forward to seeing me running out on Saturday. I don’t know where the last nine years have gone, but it’s been a good nine years, and I’m still enjoying my rugby.”I do remember playing Jersey away as my first game, when I was 17 under [former Scarlets head coach] Wayne Pivac, and I then had a couple of league games after that.”I don’t often score tries – I’m happy having crossed the line in the game last week against Glasgow – but I’m not counting on another try on my 100th.” Following their initial Pool 3 match in Bayonne, the Scarlets are scheduled to face Georgian team Black Lion, Gloucester, and another French club, Vannes, as they progress through their European Challenge Cup schedule. Nicholas expressed his optimism that shifting from the United Rugby Championship league to the European competition could serve as a catalyst for the Scarlets’ success this season. He elaborated: “Two years ago, when the European games came around, we had lost a couple of games before it and the European Cup literally changed the season for us,” Nicholas said.”We had two wins [in Europe] and then our whole season changed – we went on to win a lot of league games after that and we carried on playing well in the league and in the Cup [where Scarlets lost in the semi-finals against Glasgow] so I don’t think it’s a distraction at all. “I think it’s a nice opportunity for us to go out there and show what we can do, and hopefully it will reflect in the league as well.”