Ioan Lloyd

Ioan Lloyd
Lloyd representing Bristol Bears during the EPCR Challenge Cup
Date of birth (2001-04-05) 5 April 2001 (age 23)
Place of birthCardiff, Wales
Height1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)[1]
Weight85 kg (187 lb; 13 st 5 lb)
SchoolYsgol Gyfun Gymraeg Glantaf
Clifton College
Rugby union career
Position(s) Fly-half, Fullback
Current team Scarlets
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2018–2023 Bristol Bears 82 (170)
2023– Scarlets 14 (83)
Correct as of 16 March 2024
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2020 Wales U20 2 (0)
2020– Wales 7 (12)
Correct as of 16 March 2024

Ioan Lloyd (born 5 April 2001) is a Welsh professional rugby union player who plays as a fly-half for United Rugby Championship club Scarlets and the Wales national team.[2]

Club career

Early years

Lloyd won the 2015 Dewar Shield with Cardiff Schools before joining Cardiff Blues. He then moved to England, joining Clifton College and was quickly snapped up by Bristol.

Bristol

He made his first professional appearance playing for Bristol against Bath in the first game of the 2019-2020 Premiership Rugby season[3] and scored two tries in his first two performances.[4][5]

Lloyd was named man of the match on his competitive debut at fly half, scoring 22 points in a 59–21 win against Zebre Parma in the 2019–20 European Rugby Challenge Cup.[6]

In 2021, Lloyd was named as the Discovery of the Season after a breakout year for Bristol, moving from a bench player to a starter for the first team.[7][8]

Known for his versatility, Lloyd has started matches at fly half, centre, wing, and fullback, and has covered scrum half during an injury crisis.[9] Ahead of the 2022–23 Premiership Rugby season, Bristol coach Pat Lam indicated that Lloyd’s long term focus would be at inside centre.[9]

On 18 April 2023, it was announced that Lloyd would be joining the Scarlets for the 2023–24 season.[10]

Scarlets

Lloyd made his first Scarlets appearance in a preseason friendly against the Barbarians along with fellow new signing Taine Plumtree.[11] The pair made their competitive debuts for the Scarlets together against the Bulls on their South African tour.[12]

International career

Wales U18 and U20

Lloyd played for Wales U18 at the 2019 Six Nations Festival.[13][14]

Lloyd progressed to the Wales U20 squad for the 2020 Six Nations U20 Championship, starting two matches at fullback.

Wales

On 6 October 2020 he was named in the senior Wales squad for the 2020 Autumn Nations Cup.[15] He made his debut for Wales on the 18 November 2020 as a second half replacement the 18-0 win against Georgia.[16] Prior to his international debut, Lloyd had only made four starts for Bristol.[17] Lloyd earned his second cap the next week, coming off the bench against Italy.

Lloyd was selected in the Welsh squad for the 2021 July rugby union tests, but did not feature in any of the match day squads.[17]

Lloyd earned a recall to the Wales squad for the 2024 Six Nations Championship.[18]

Personal life

Lloyd’s younger brother Jac is also a fly half, and has followed in his footsteps: both having played for Wales U20. Jac has also played for Clifton College, and is part of the Bristol Bears academy, like Ioan before him.[19]

References

  1. ^ "Ioan Lloyd".
  2. ^ "Ioan Lloyd". ESPNscrum. ESPN Inc. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
  3. ^ James, Ben (18 October 2019). "The 'rock star' Welsh teenager who just blew people away". walesonline. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
  4. ^ Thomas, Simon (7 November 2019). "Introducing Ioan Lloyd, the 18-year-old Welsh boy English rugby is raving about". walesonline. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
  5. ^ "Teenage sensation Ioan Lloyd scores late try as Bristol Bears beat Sale Sharks". Bristol Post. November 2019. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
  6. ^ Sands, Katie (29 January 2021). "Snubbed Wales talent Ioan Lloyd tipped to be 'world-class' amid Pivac talks". WalesOnline. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  7. ^ "Bristol Bears' Ioan Lloyd claims Land Rover Discovery of the Season award". Premiership Rugby. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  8. ^ "Ioan Lloyd".
  9. ^ a b Evely, John (25 May 2022). "Bristol Bears utility star Ioan Lloyd settles on his final position". BristolLive. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  10. ^ "Lloyd to join Scarlets from Bristol". BBC Sport. 18 April 2023. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
  11. ^ "Lloyd and Plumtree to make Scarlets debuts against Baa-Baas - Welsh Rugby Union". Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions. 14 September 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  12. ^ Thomas, Steffan (20 October 2023). "Wales pair to make URC debuts for Scarlets in daunting South African clash". Wales Online. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  13. ^ "Lloyd leads Wales past Scotland at Sixways". Six Nations Rugby. 17 April 2019. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
  14. ^ "The hugely talented Welsh rugby teen who's just signed for a star-studded English club despite still being at college". Wales Online. 13 February 2019.
  15. ^ "Sheedy and Lloyd named in Wales squad for autumn campaign". 6 October 2020. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  16. ^ Lloyd debut
  17. ^ a b Thomas, Simon (30 August 2022). "Meeting Wales' wonderkid, two years after the 'crazy' call from Wayne Pivac". WalesOnline. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  18. ^ "Wales men's squad named for 2024 Guinness Six Nations - Welsh Rugby Union". Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions. 16 January 2024. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  19. ^ Booth, Martin (16 March 2021). "Jac Lloyd follows older brother Ioan as he signs for Bristol Bears". Bristol24/7. Retrieved 24 December 2022.