Ioan Lloyd is loving life in the fabled Scarlets 10 jersey following his summer move from Bristol.
Lloyd has started all four BKT United Rugby Championship matches this term, catching the eye in the last two home outings with his elusive running and pin-point goal-kicking.
The 22-year-old admits he is still learning and developing as a 10 having operated more as an utility back when he was at the Bears.
But with Dan Biggar having retired from international rugby, Gareth Ansombe now in Japan and Scarlets star Sam Costelow sidelined by injury, there is growing media attention on Lloyd’s progress in the fly-half role.
Speaking after Saturday’s cruel late loss to the Lions, where he kicked 13 points from the tee, Lloyd said: “I am loving it. It feels like a new challenge. It is revisiting something I used to do and I am enjoying being back there (at 10).
“I have a lot to learn and for me it’s about continuing to improve on things I see as my strengths, a lot of game management stuff and that comes with time.
“I loved my time at Bristol and have some great experience of playing in different positions, but I am a 10 and would like to play there. So I needed to take that step to do that.”
Lloyd added: “There is a rich history in the Scarlets jersey. I have big boots to fill and hopefully I can do it proud. The opportunity to come here and get back to Wales to a club like the Scarlets was too big a chance to turn down.
“I have grown up watching players like Gar (Davies) and Foxy (Jonathan Davies), I’m still a bit star struck playing between them! They have been around and played with some of the best 10s in Welsh rugby history so it’s about learning off those boys as well as other 10s.”
On the potential duel with Costelow, who is set to return to action in the new year, Lloyd added: “I admire Costy (Costelow). He is a great player and I admire his playing style and hopefully I can learn off that and hopefully he can learn off me as well. I see it as healthy competition.”
The Scarlets returned to training on Monday with attention switching to a trip to Dublin to take on Irish powerhouses Leinster on Saturday evening.
Reflecting on the loss to the Lions, Lloyd added: “It was a tough one to take that one. We felt we managed it well up until the final 10 minutes or so, then some poor discipline and errors cost us. We are a young side and we need to learn from those fast.
“The boys were obviously very disappointed after the game, but we have to focus on a tough fixture against Leinster on Saturday to look to bounce back.”