The Scarlets are targeting the signing of former New Zealand U20s international Taine Plumtree, who qualifies for Wales.
Plumtree currently plies his trade for the Auckland-based Blues in Super Rugby, while he is contracted to Wellington in the Mitre 10 Cup. The 23-year-old back-five forward has long been considered an international star of the future, and is the son of former Ireland and All Blacks coach John Plumtree.
Scarlets head coach Dwayne Peel is a big admirer of Plumtree, and WalesOnline understands the west Walians have worked tirelessly behind the scenes for months in a bid to persuade the the Swansea-born man to make Llanelli his home. Plumtree has not put pen to paper yet, and there are other clubs interested, but our sources tell us the Scarlets are the clear front runners to win the race for his services.
READ MORE: Wales star Liam Williams to quit Welsh rugby
Should Plumtree commit his future to the Scarlets, he would become an option for Warren Gatland's Wales squad having been born in Swansea when his father coached the All Whites between 1997 and 2001.
Junior All Black Plumtree is a versatile player who can play second-row, blindside flanker and No. 8, but would be more likely to be the long-term successor to the recently retired Aaron Shingler in the Scarlets No. 6 shirt. He is an athletic player with a terrific skillset who is comfortable in the wide channels, while he is among the best lineout forwards in New Zealand. Crucially, he also has a lot of dog about him, and is an effective carrier in the tight who can make the hard yards.
While Welsh rugby's problems have been well-documented, the Scarlets have been smart in their recruitment, bringing in the outrageously gifted Wales international Ioan Lloyd from Bristol Bears, while they have signed two of the best prospects from the BUCS Super League in Charlie Titcombe and Teddy Leatherbarrow.
They have also invested heavily in their coaching team, bringing in highly-rated former Ireland international Jared Payne to take charge of the backs and the popular South Africa World Cup winner Albert van den Berg as forwards coach. But having lost Blade Thomson, Tomas Lezana, Shingler and Sione Kalamafoni, the Scarlets are in desperate need of strengthening their pack and they believe Plumtree is the right fit for them.
Should they get it over the line, Wales boss Gatland could benefit from the Scarlets' due diligence with Plumtree easily good enough to force his way into the Wales squad over the coming seasons, if not sooner. But the deal is not completed yet, and Plumtree has a big decision to make about his future.
READ NEXT:
Scarlets set to sign two of the best players in the university game
'More players, better players' — The radical WRU shake-up to save rugby in Wales revealed
The man who helped save famous Welsh rugby club from oblivion steps down
The new life of Paul James, the unsung rugby hero whose son now plays for Wales
