Former Welsh international Rob Evans is returning to his hometown club, Haverfordwest.

The ex-Grand Slam prop has transferred from the Dragons after retiring from the professional game.

 Evans won 39 caps for Wales and made 151 appearances for The Scarlets over nine seasons from 2011.

 The nineteen stone loosehead prop, 31, has already started training with his new Pembroke Road teammates. His arrival is acoup for The Blues under the guidance of coach Randal Evans, recently repatriated from Narberth.

Rob said: “ I am really excited about joining the Blues and putting something back into the town - and more broadly, community rugby. It feels like the right time to repay the people who helped me on the ladder at the start of my career. Randal wants to build here. It will be brilliant and I’m looking forward to it.”

Coach Evans said: “We’re delighted to be welcoming a player of Rob’s calibre and excited about the impact he can make with us. Rob is still highly driven and focussed on help our ambition. He wants to achieve at Haverfordwest.”

Evans is an ex Wales U20s international and reached third place in the 2012 IRB Junior World Championship in South Africa playing in the front row alongside fellow Scarlets, Kirby Myhill, and Samson Lee.

He made is full senior international debut against Ireland in the 2015 Six Nations Championship and became a lynchpin of Warren Gatland’s team, making his mark as a mobile front-rower with slick handling skills. He started four games in the 2019 Grand Slam campaign. His last cap was against England at Twickenham in March 2020.

 His family have strong links with the Division Three West side. His father, Graham and uncle, Richard both won honours with The Blues in the 70s & 80s.

Haverfordwest open their Division Three West A season at home to Neyland on September 2. The club is hoping that the marquee signing will spark significant public interest.

Secretary Graham Dalton said: “Rob means a great deal to the club because of his achievements and he’s hungry to help cultivate the next generation. There’s an air of excitement here.”