The 28-year-old tight head prop, who was due to win his first cap against Scotland in the 2020 Guinness Six Nations before COVID caused the game to be postponed until the autumn, is leaving Sale Sharks at the end of the season and will join Scarlets.
The news of his switch to a Welsh region comes hot on the heels of the announcement that Wales second row Will Rowlands is leaving Wasps to join the Dragons in the summer.
“I’ve really enjoyed my time at Sale and I feel I’ve improved hugely as a player hugely. I have a young family now, and the opportunity to return to Wales and be closer to home after so many years away was too good to turn down,” said John.
“Scarlets are a prestigious region and I‘m looking forward to joining up with them in the summer. Before that I am 100% committed to finishing the season on a high with the Sharks.”
A product of the Cardiff Blues Academy, John joined Sale from Doncaster Knights in 2017. He made an instant impact on the Sharks scrum and his immense power and strength helped him to cement a starting spot.
He has made 82 appearances for the Manchester-based club over the past three seasons. He will join Samson Lee and Javan Sebastian as the tight head options at Parc Y Scarlets following the retirement for former Springbok Werner Kruger at the end of the current campaign.
Capped by Wales at U18 and U20 level, he was in the Blues squad that won the European Challenge Cup in 2010 and then headed to New Zealand for two seasons to play for Northland. A former No 8 in his younger days, he was converted to the front row and has since built a reputation for being one of the best scrummagers in the Premiership.
