Ryan Elias

Ryan James Elias (born 7 January 1995) is a Welsh rugby union player who plays as a hooker for the Scarlets and the Wales national team.[1]

Ryan Elias
Birth nameRyan James Elias
Date of birth (1995-01-07) 7 January 1995
Place of birthCarmarthen, Wales
Height185 cm (6 ft 1 in)
Weight112 kg (17 st 9 lb)
SchoolYsgol Bro Myrddin
Rugby union career
Position(s) Hooker
Current team Scarlets
Youth career
Carmarthen Athletic
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2013–2016
2013–		 Carmarthen Quins
Scarlets		 45
150		 (11)
(30)
Correct as of 16 April 2023
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2014–2015
2017-		 Wales U20
Wales		 8
37		 (0)
(20)
Correct as of 16 April 2023

Club career

Elias played youth rugby for Carmarthen Athletic, where his grandfather once served as club chairman.[2] He later made the switch to rivals Carmarthen Quins, while progressing through the Scarlets academy.[3]

Elias made his professional debut for the Scarlets on 17 November 2013, against the Saracens.[4]

With first choice hooker and fellow Bro Myrddin graduate Ken Owens injured, Elias started the semi-final against Leinster and final against Munster, winning the 2016–17 Pro12 title with the Scarlets.

Elias made his 100th appearance for the Scarlets on 5 January 2019, with a win against the Dragons.[5] He made his 150th appearance for the club on 17 December 2022, against the Cheetahs in the Challenge Cup.[6] Elias signed an extension with the Scarlets on 14 April 2023.[7]

International career

Elias featured for Wales U18 in 2013, and progressed into the Wales U20 ranks in 2014, making eight appearances for the team.In May 2017 Elias was named in the Wales senior squad for the tests against Tonga and Samoa in June 2017.[8]

He made his debut on 16 June 2017, off the bench against Tonga at Eden Park[9] and started the next test against Samoa.

In his third test appearance, Elias came off the bench against South Africa on 2 June 2018, scoring a late try to put Wales in the lead and ultimately secure the win.[10]

Elias won the Grand Slam with Wales in the 2019 Six Nations, appearing off the bench against Italy, as Wales won their 11th match in a row.[11]

Having been named in the Wales squad for the 2019 Rugby World Cup, Elias made one appearance, starting in the win against Uruguay.[12]

Often shifting between a starting position and the bench, Elias was named to start all four of Wales's fixtures in the 2021 end-of-year rugby union internationals. He scored three tries, including a brace against Fiji. He retained the starting hooker position for the 2022 Six Nations, starting four of the five matches.[13]

Elias started all three of the tests during the 2022 mid-year rugby union tests, as Wales secured a first ever win in South Africa.[13] He made three appearances off the bench during the 2022 end-of-year rugby union internationals, and was yellow carded in the final match against Australia.[13]

Elias missed the 2023 Six Nations Championship with an Achilles injury.[7]

International tries
TryOpponentLocationVenueCompetitionDateResult Score
1 South AfricaWashington DC, USARFK Stadium2018 Summer Tour2 June 2018Win 20 – 22
2  Fiji Cardiff, Wales Millennium Stadium 2021 Autumn Internationals 14 November 2021 Win 38 – 23
3
4 AustraliaCardiff, WalesMillennium Stadium2021 Autumn Internationals20 November 2021Win 29 – 28

References
  1. "Ryan Elias". Scarlets. Scarlets Regional Limited. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
  2. "The Player Column: Ryan Elias - Welsh Rugby Union". Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions. 24 January 2019. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
  3. "International Honours (E) Ryan Elias – Carmarthen Quins : Official Website". Retrieved 16 December 2022.
  4. "Elias seeking150th Euro celebration in Italy - Welsh Rugby Union". Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
  5. "Scarlets team to face Dragons". www.unitedrugby.com. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
  6. "Wales hooker Elias hits 150 not out for Scarlets". BBC Sport. 16 December 2022. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
  7. "Wales hooker Elias signs new Scarlets contract". BBC Sport. 14 April 2023. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
  8. Wales squad June 2017
  9. "Tonga 6-24 Wales: Alex Cuthbert shines in scrappy win for Wales". Sky Sports. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
  10. Bywater, Alex (2 June 2018). "Ryan Elias's late try earns Wales win over South Africa in Washington". the Guardian. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
  11. "Italy 15-26 Wales: Six Nations 2019 — as it happened". the Guardian. 9 February 2019. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
  12. "'I've always wanted to play in a World Cup'". BBC Sport. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
  13. "Ryan Elias". Welsh Rugby Union. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
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