Anderson took a chance on a move to Wales and it’s paying off handsomely

THE days of Welsh clubs signing big-name Southern Hemisphere players are in the past but Fletcher Anderson has certainly made a significant impact since swapping New Zealand's South Island for Llanelli.

- STEFFAN THOMAS

Anderson is not a household name but had been pulling up trees for Tasman Mako in New Zealand's National Provincial Championship, while he was also part of the wider Crusaders squad.

The 22-year-old backrower was identified by the club's recruitment and operations officer James Davies as a potential solution to the Scarlets’ ball-carrying problem.

Anderson had a choice between moving halfway around the world to represent the Scarlets or taking up a contract with one of New Zealand's five Super Rugby Pacific outfits.

“We were about halfway through the season over there and things were up in the air with Super Rugby the following season,’ he said.

“I was just focusing on trying to play well in the NPC but then my agent told me there’s a club over here who wanted to reach out.

“jt was Cubby (James Davies) who reached out so I jumped on a Zoom with him and Peely (Dwayne Peel).

“They said they were really impressed with the way I'd been playing and said they needed a ball-carrying No 8.

“That was what they said they needed and that they saw me as that.

“They were really keen on me coming over.

“Asa player you want coaches who believe in you, back you and allow you to go out and do your thing.

“As a young guy moving over to the other side of the world it is cool to live in the UK.

“T tossed it up for a week or two and then was like ‘OK, let's do it’:

“{’m really happy with my decision so far”