Player Spotlight: Regan Ellis Webb

A sharp and instinctive scrum-half with a natural feel for tempo and control, Regan has already shown the qualities that make the number nine shirt so influential. His vision around the breakdown, crisp distribution and competitive edge mark him out as a player to watch. Comparisons are inevitable, but Regan’s journey is very much his own, shaped by hard work, resilience and a genuine love for rugby.

We sat down with the talented young scrum-half to talk about his development so far, the lessons he has learned growing up in a rugby household and his ambitions for the future as he continues to forge his own path in the sport.

My dad. Watching how hard he worked every morning, getting up early when no one else was, dealing with setbacks, and still showing up. He made sacrifices. He was obsessed with improving every single day.

Game management. Knowing when to speed the game up, when to slow it down, when to kick, when to run. Controlling the game instead of just playing in it.

When it gets tough, that’s when we’re actually getting better. Anyone can train when it’s easy. The tough sessions are where you separate yourself and build resilience.

Big tackle. It shifts momentum. It lifts the team. It shows intent.

I’ll be 20 then, so I want to have worked hard enough to have a trade behind me while also putting myself in a position to secure a professional contract.

Rugby is the dream, but I understand nothing is guaranteed. So I want to build security off the field and chase excellence on it. If I’m disciplined, consistent and keep improving every year, I believe I can give myself a real opportunity to make it professionally.

Rugby in the UK is just at a different level in terms of depth and competition. In Dubai, there are some very good players, but there aren’t enough teams, so you often end up playing the same opposition week after week.

In the UK, every single game is competitive. Competition for places in your own squad is intense, so you have to be at 100% all the time. If you drop your standards, someone else steps in. That pushes you to improve constantly.

That said, I had a great time playing in Dubai. I made some great friends and learned a lot. There’s a big focus on 7s, and because of the weather, the game is fast and open. That really helped develop my speed, fitness and ability to play at tempo — which suits my style.

Coming back to the UK, I’ve had to re-adjust. Playing in wind, rain and even snow is a different challenge. The game is more physical, territory matters more, and you have to be smarter with your decisions.

Both environments have helped me — Dubai helped me grow my attacking game, and the UK is pushing me to become a more complete player.