Ewan Johnson

Ewan Johnson was born in Crewe to a Welsh mother and a Scottish father, moved to France at four when his parents retired there, grew up in Brittany, learnt rugby at RC Carhaix, and plays for Scotland. Not many second rows have that paragraph.

At 2.03m and 120kg he joined Bayonne in 2025 on two years.

After Carhaix he played at Plouzané before Racing 92 recruited him in 2017. He spent three years in their academy, was a Scotland Under-20 international, and started the 2019 Under-20 Six Nations. He played exactly one senior match for Racing, against Lyon in the Top 14.

So he went home to Brittany. Vannes gave him a two-year academy contract in 2020, he played thirteen matches in his first season with eight starts, and extended. By 2023 he was a fixture there and turned down their offers to move to Oyonnax and the top flight.

Gregor Townsend capped him on Scotland’s 2024 summer tour of the Americas, against Canada. Three good matches on that tour earned an autumn recall, where he played once, a 59-21 win over Portugal. He played for Scotland A against Chile in November 2024 and was in the 2025 Six Nations squad.

Bayonne agreed terms with him in February 2025, for the following season.

The Vannes years are the interesting part. He turned down extensions from a club where he was a first-choice second row, in a division where he was comfortable, to go to Oyonnax and be tested. Two years later Scotland capped him. Very few players make that particular bet and win it.

A genuine lineout target at over two metres, and a player who has climbed from Fédérale-level Breton club rugby to a Test shirt without ever being anyone’s prospect. Bayonne’s set piece is where he earns the contract.