Bath Rugby put Jonny Fa'amatuainu on loan to Scarlets

​Jonny Fa’amatuainu will join the Scarlets on a one-season loan, Bath Rugby confirmed today.

The Samoa back-row forward will play the 2010/11 season with the Magners League side as he seeks to get more game time.

The switch to the other side of the Severn Bridge is subject to the transfer of his current work visa to the

Scarlets, but that is expected to be rubber-stamped by the authorities within the

next fortnight.

The 26-year-old struggled to pin down a place in Bath's match-day squad

towards the end of last season. The arrival of England captain Lewis

Moody and Scotland back-row Simon Taylor will have shunted him further

down the pecking order.

Fa'amatuainu, whose contract with Bath expires next summer, has made 98 appearances for Bath and scored 15 tries since

he joined the club in the 2005/06 season. His move on loan to the

Scarlets begins with immediate effect.

Bath chief executive Nick Blofeld believes the trip west will enable Fa'amatuainu to fulfil his hopes of more game time.

"Jonny and his agent said to us that he was looking for more guaranteed

game time and we believe that this opportunity will be able to offer him

just that," said Blofeld.

"He has been a fantastic addition to Bath Rugby and has played with real

flair during the five seasons with us. He has also been a real crowd

favourite and a popular character around the city.

"With our new recruits, though, we are confident that this is a good

move for Jonny and that the Scarlets and he will benefit from the

additional game time that this will give him."

Scarlets head coach Nigel Davies said: "Jonny will offer us some exciting options not only as a flair player but because of his flexibility to be able to play across the back and second row.

"We've been talking to Bath for a while now - the move fits well with us as we've been looking to bring in new blood and certain types of player into our forwards.

"Jonny's obviously hungry for more game time and his move fits with Bath's squad make-up next season and the new signings they've made this summer.

"He's been down a few times to meet with us and see our set-up and was clearly impressed with the training facilities and the stadium at Parc y Scarlets and is looking forward to making an impact here amongst the team and with our supporters.

"We look forward to welcoming him into the squad and seeing what he's capable of doing for the Scarlets next season. This gives us more competition and energy in the group and that can only be a good thing."