The Scarlets have officially announced the signing of All Blacks backrower Cullen Grace from the Canterbury Crusaders, a move that was first exclusively revealed by WalesOnline last month. The 26-year-old, who can play across the back row and at lock, has been a key figure for both the Crusaders and Canterbury, known for his physicality, athleticism, and rugby intelligence, as well as his leadership as captain of one of New Zealand's most successful provincial teams.
Player Profile and International Experience
Grace is a former New Zealand Under-20 international who progressed through the Crusaders Academy and made an immediate impact at Super Rugby level. His performances earned him his first All Blacks cap against Australia in 2020, and he has also represented the Māori All Blacks on three occasions. He joins the Scarlets after the completion of Canterbury's National Provincial Championship campaign later this year.
Scarlets' Recruitment Strategy
The signing is part of the Scarlets' priority to strengthen their pack. Interim director of rugby Nigel Davies said: "When we looked at the profile of player we wanted to bring into the club, Cullen stood out immediately. He is a proven performer, but what really impressed us was the person behind the player. When you speak to people who have worked with him, the same themes keep coming up – professionalism, competitiveness, leadership and a genuine desire to improve every day."
Davies added: "He comes from a culture where winning, accountability and continuous improvement are simply expected. That experience is incredibly valuable and something that will benefit not only our team on the field but also the players around him. At 26, Cullen is entering the prime years of his career. He has already achieved a huge amount in the game, but we believe there is still plenty more to come."
Grace's Statement
Grace expressed his excitement about the move: "Scarlets is a very proud rugby club with a great history and tradition and that was something that really appealed to me. I am looking forward to coming over, learning, growing my game and doing everything I can to contribute to the club, its rugby group, the supporters and its legacy. From afar, you can see the passion that exists around the Scarlets and Welsh rugby and I'm excited to experience that first-hand."
He also noted the appeal of the URC and EPCR competitions: "The style of rugby played in the URC and EPCR competitions and the quality of the competition was another big attraction for me. It is a challenge I am really looking forward to and I can't wait to get started."
Other Signings
Grace is the seventh signing the Scarlets have made ahead of the 2026/27 season. The club has also secured second-rows Harvey Cuckson and Alex Groves, hookers George Roberts and John McKee, Wales prop Corey Domachowski, and Welsh-qualified Kiwi back-three player Isaac Murray-Macgregor.
