FORMER Dorchester forward Harri O’Connor made his professional debut for Scarlets in a 36-10 win over Newport Dragons.

O’Connor earned his chance in Wales after moving through the WRU Exiles programme.

Along with brother Sam he signed for West Wales Pro14 club Scarlets. Harri has been capped by Wales Under-20s and played in the Under-20s Six Nations.

O’Connor is looking a big prospect for the future; he had previously been a part of the Bath academy programme.

After promotion to Scarlets’ first-team training squad, O’Connor has been training in a pod with regular Welsh front rowers Rob Evans and Wyn Jones.

He is being coached by the former All Black World Cup-winning prop Ben Franks, and said: “I am picking his brains as he has been there and done that in the front row and won the World Cup twice.

“His experience is going to be invaluable in growing my career. There is no better person to learn from and I’m just trying to make my mark in training to earn myself a chance.”

That chance came against Newport, where Scarlets fielded a number of new prospects and a number of experienced old heads to guide them along.

Starting his rugby journey at Dorchester as part of Gav Dunning’s group of players, Harri was soon spotted by Dorset & Wilts for county matches and then moved into the Bath academy aged 15.