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Kiwi-born McNicholl signs new deal with Scarlets and it's good news for Wales

By Online Editors

26 Mar 2019

Johnny McNicholl celebrates try against Racing 92. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Johnny McNicholl has become the latest high-profile player to sign a new deal with the Scarlets.

Last week Grand Slam winners Jonathan Davies, Ken Owens and Rob Evans penned new contracts.

Born in Christchurch, McNicholl was a regular for the Crusaders in Super Rugby and a title winner with the Canterbury provincial team before making the move to West Wales in 2016.

The 28-year-old qualifies for Six Nations champions Wales on residency in December.

Wayne Pivac, who will replace Warren Gatland as Wales head coach at the end of the 2019 World Cup, is delighted to see the deal done.

“It is great news that Johnny has signed a new contract. He has been one of the most dangerous attacking threats in the PRO14 in recent years and played a big part in us reaching successive finals and a European semi-final.

“With the news of Jon, Ken and Rob signing last week, this is another significant signing for the Scarlets. The squad is looking strong for next season.”

McNicholl, who can play full-back or wing, joined from New Zealand Super Rugby side Crusaders in 2016 and was part of the Scarlets team that lifted the Guinness PRO12 title that season.

A potent attacking runner, he made an immediate impact at Parc y Scarlets with a try on his debut against Leinster and has gone on to touch down 27 times in 59 appearances, including a memorable hat-trick in last season’s PRO14 final in Dublin.

“I am happy that everything has been finalised and I’m staying at the Scarlets,” said McNicholl.

“Myself and my family are settled here in Wales and have been made to feel very welcome.

“We have had some great success over the last couple of years and hopefully there is more to come.

“I’m looking forward to reconnecting with my former Crusaders coach Brad Mooar and feel there are exciting times ahead.”

Watch: Kiwi’s Abroad – Join RugbyPass employee of the month runner-up Sam Smith as he embarks on an epic journey across Europe to track down some of the finest Kiwi talent plying their trade in the Northern Hemisphere.

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Comments on RugbyPass

JW 15 minutes ago

'They smelt it': Scott Robertson says Italy sensed All Blacks' vulnerability

They did. In 2020.

Would have been WC victory with Razor in charge last year! Schmidt would have been pulled in to help Rennie and these performances would have built up last year for Aussie (instead of his incfluence helping NZ) and they would have been riding a high of returning players and league signings building to the B&I Lions and a RWC at home. And then Smchidt would have been ready to take the mantel of the All Blacks this year!

Oh how it could have been so so different if Robinson had of realised the folly in the handme down appointments policy they had back then.

7 Go to comments

JW 21 minutes ago

'They smelt it': Scott Robertson says Italy sensed All Blacks' vulnerability

IDK if you can say that, and as I contended before the game, I don't know if you can really call it the strongest side (selecting fatigued players) either. Which would certainly be one of many of Razor's failings this year if was the case (yet to watch). Wasn't that also the top side's last hit out before Ireland?

7 Go to comments

JW 26 minutes ago

‘Right a few wrongs’: Ex-Wales flyer’s message of intent with Crusaders

Definitely as Christchurch based decline if you believe some.

9 Go to comments

JW 29 minutes ago

‘Right a few wrongs’: Ex-Wales flyer’s message of intent with Crusaders

23% is a fair reflection of the that was turning out last year imo.

It's not the same comp with non NZ easy beat teams to inflate yuor record anymore.

You might be disheartened for me to predict a semi final performance and Penney that is wanted back. Can you deal with that? 😝

9 Go to comments

JW 32 minutes ago

‘Right a few wrongs’: Ex-Wales flyer’s message of intent with Crusaders

Pretty much now the only old fart retained from last year isn't he? Still has some solid legs under him but probably lucky he signed before Hutchinson got a chance to impress in the NPC (which I was surprised he did after I thought he stalled a lot of the U20's flair in the JRWC this year).

9 Go to comments

_Ty 34 minutes ago

All Blacks player ratings vs Italy | Autumn Nations Series

No way Beauden gets a 9.5. He gave up possession too easily by kicking the ball away. Either too long or just aimless. One of those kicks lead directly to the Italians only try. He also missed the last tackle too, so he couldn't even clean up his mistake.

8 Go to comments

Head high tackle 38 minutes ago

'They smelt it': Scott Robertson says Italy sensed All Blacks' vulnerability

I thought they were very inept Sadersman. That was a horrible performance and just adds to the year where just when we think they are improving they do this. Look at the way Schmidt has turned Aus around. Perhaps NZR made the wrong choice.

7 Go to comments

John 38 minutes ago

The Wallabies have a serious problem

Yeah, defs a decent player, I can't personally say because I haven't been watching him, but I would hazard a guess he isn't more dominant than a AAA or perhaps a HJH?

13 Go to comments

Head high tackle 40 minutes ago

'They smelt it': Scott Robertson says Italy sensed All Blacks' vulnerability

I think all you need to do is look at Aus to see where the big issue is for the ABs. Aus can turn a world cup pool failure to beating England in the same time Razor has taken the ABs from a 1 point loss in the WC last year to an absolute rabble this year. ABs won 91-17 v Italy last year with our so called B side. This was Razors strongest side yet were terrible. They look like they met yesterday.

7 Go to comments

JW 46 minutes ago

All Blacks survive physical Italy scare after captain carded

Yeah they're away of it too. It was brought up in one of the Italian focused articles. They are performing now and trying to move out of that 'being in awe' type attitude.

Very easy to say we're good enough to put all our focus on wining this last big game of the year (this one) though, you also need to be consistent and still perform in the other games (slip up against Georgia) and not get ahead of yourself. Not think you're too good for teams like Argentina and Georgia just because theres a shift in attitude towards thinking 'were good enough to beat anybody now'. Hope they go forward from here but I think this performance is still only good enough to keep them off wooden spoon 6N position (keep them well away from the bottom mind you).

2 Go to comments

JW 53 minutes ago

'They smelt it': Scott Robertson says Italy sensed All Blacks' vulnerability

Yeah I predicted (out of thin air) it to be more like 30 points between them. You don't think it wasn't more like that because they picked jaded players?

Will have a look at the game now I guess.

7 Go to comments

JW 58 minutes ago

Lamb to the slaughter? Italy aim to 'get stuck into' All Blacks

Don't mind me lol I just thought it was funny that you saw the opportunity to show some good parochialism at the end of this article. I thought we were going to have an interesting Italian perspective on the game to read (which we could counter attack with our perspective etc), instead it was about an Englishmans perspective on the game/rugby (which I wasn't interested in replying to at all).

Oh, and I also should be always in that last sentence. Can't say I've even seen a 6N without a bunny team but it certainly wasn't Italy this year!

6 Go to comments

Tk 1 hour ago

'They smelt it': Scott Robertson says Italy sensed All Blacks' vulnerability

A messy season. New coaches, systems, philosophies it was always a start if something new. But I'm disappointed at how players who continue to not come up with the goods are retained and most if not all debuts were down to injuries rather than inspired selection. This season was the honeymoon, more has to be delivered next year.

7 Go to comments

JR 1 hour ago

Wales player ratings vs South Africa | 2024 Autumn Nations Series

So Jac Morgan is the only player to receive a positive rating, the rest all graded negative scores out of 10. About sums it up perfectly!

1 Go to comments

Tk 1 hour ago

All Blacks player ratings vs Italy | Autumn Nations Series

Apart from scrum a pretty poor performance I thought. Again more aimless kicking away possession from BB. We badly need new 10, 12 & 13.