Ioan Lloyd Explained

Ioan Lloyd
Birth Date:5 April 2001
Birth Place:Cardiff, Wales
Height:1.780NaN0[1]
Weight:850NaN0
School:Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Glantaf
Clifton College
Position:Fly-half, Fullback
Currentclub:Scarlets
Years1:2018–2023
Clubs1:Bristol Bears
Apps1:82
Points1:170
Years2:2023–
Clubs2:Scarlets
Apps2:14
Points2:83
Repyears1:2020
Repteam1:Wales U20
Repcaps1:2
Reppoints1:0
Repyears2:2020–
Repteam2:Wales
Repcaps2:7
Reppoints2:12
Clubupdate:16 March 2024
Repupdate: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.

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.

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]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Ioan Lloyd.
  2. Web site: Ioan Lloyd . . . 9 November 2019.
  3. Web site: The 'rock star' Welsh teenager who just blew people away. James. Ben. 2019-10-18. walesonline. 2019-11-09.
  4. Web site: Introducing Ioan Lloyd, the 18-year-old Welsh boy English rugby is raving about. Thomas. Simon. 2019-11-07. walesonline. 2019-11-09.
  5. Web site: Teenage sensation Ioan Lloyd scores late try as Bristol Bears beat Sale Sharks . November 2019 . Bristol Post . 9 November 2019.
  6. Web site: Sands . Katie . 2021-01-29 . Snubbed Wales talent Ioan Lloyd tipped to be 'world-class' amid Pivac talks . 2022-12-24 . WalesOnline . en.
  7. Web site: Bristol Bears' Ioan Lloyd claims Land Rover Discovery of the Season award . 2022-12-24 . Premiership Rugby . en-US.
  8. Web site: Ioan Lloyd .
  9. Web site: Evely . John . 2022-05-25 . Bristol Bears utility star Ioan Lloyd settles on his final position . 2022-12-24 . BristolLive . en.
  10. News: 18 April 2023 . Lloyd to join Scarlets from Bristol . BBC Sport . 18 April 2023.
  11. Web site: 2023-09-14 . Lloyd and Plumtree to make Scarlets debuts against Baa-Baas - Welsh Rugby Union . 2024-02-02 . Welsh Rugby Union Wales & Regions . en-GB.
  12. Web site: Thomas . Steffan . 2023-10-20 . Wales pair to make URC debuts for Scarlets in daunting South African clash . 2024-02-02 . Wales Online . en.
  13. Web site: 2019-04-17 . Lloyd leads Wales past Scotland at Sixways . 2019-11-12 . Six Nations Rugby . en-GB.
  14. Web site: 13 February 2019 . The hugely talented Welsh rugby teen who's just signed for a star-studded English club despite still being at college . Wales Online.
  15. News: Sheedy and Lloyd named in Wales squad for autumn campaign. 6 October 2020. 6 October 2020.
  16. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/55019457 Lloyd debut
  17. Web site: Thomas . Simon . 2022-08-30 . Meeting Wales' wonderkid, two years after the 'crazy' call from Wayne Pivac . 2022-12-24 . WalesOnline . en.
  18. Web site: 2024-01-16 . Wales men’s squad named for 2024 Guinness Six Nations - Welsh Rugby Union . 2024-02-02 . Welsh Rugby Union Wales & Regions . en-GB.
  19. Web site: Booth . Martin . 2021-03-16 . Jac Lloyd follows older brother Ioan as he signs for Bristol Bears . 2022-12-24 . Bristol24/7 . en.