| MacLeod said: "My time at the Borders has been the most enjoyable of my career and I want to thank the coaching staff and fellow players as well as the Borders public for being so supportive of both myself and Borders rugby.
"I am a born and bred Hawick lad and this has been a difficult decision but one I needed to make.
“I hope the public continue to get behind the Borders under quality coaches such as Steve Bates, George Graham and Alan Tait."
MacLeod hopes his move won’t impede possible future Scotland selection, he added: “Frank Hadden has taken Scottish rugby to a new level and I certainly want to be part of these exciting times.
“I believe I have a lot to offer Scotland at international level and Frank has shown by selecting non-Scotland based players in the past, that as long as you are playing at a consistently high level and committed to Scotland, you can be selected regardless of which domestic competition you play in.”
Scotland head coach Frank Hadden added: “Scott has worked hard to regain form and fitness after a prolonged spell out injured. He has now won seven caps for Scotland and is among those who have raised the bar of competition at lock.
“It’s disappointing to see him leave the Borders. We would have preferred him to stay but wish him well. “
Reivers head coach Steve Bates said: “We are very disappointed to lose a player of Scott’s calibre but he goes to Llanelli with our best wishes and thanks for what he has done for the club.”
Born in Hawick, MacLeod took up rugby at the age of 21 and has played for the Reivers since the side was established in 2002. Scott previously played for Hawick Trades and moved to Hawick to become a member of the side that won the 2002 BT Cellnet Cup.
Scott has played in 11 of the Reivers’ 19 games this season in all tournaments having been ruled out of the early part of the season due to a long term ankle injury.
On his return from injury, MacLeod booked a place in Frank Hadden’s Scotland squad for the 2006 RBS 6 Nations Championship.
He started in the historic Calcutta Cup triumph at Murrayfield and came off the bench in both the victory over France and the defeat against Wales at the Millennium Stadium.
He made his first senior appearances for Scotland on the 2004 Summer tour of Australia in the matches against Queensland Reds, New South Wales Country and New South Wales Waratahs (scoring a try in the NSW country game) and was rewarded for his efforts on tour by winning his first full international cap against Australia at Murrayfield in the 2004 Abbey Autumn Tests.
He was introduced to rugby at the age of 21, having been a keen golfer and basketball player previously. He joined Hawick Trades before going on to play for Hawick, with whom he won the BT Cellnet Cup in 2002 and from whom he joined The Borders professional team when it was set-up.
Scott was also awarded man of the match during the Reivers’ 20-8 victory over Glasgow Warriors at Firhill last Friday.
Scott MacLeod (Hawick and Border Reivers)
Position: Lock.
Born: 3/3/1979 in Hawick
Height: 6ft 6in.
Weight: 17st.
International record: 7 caps. 2004 – A J(rep) A(rep) SA(rep). 2006 – F(rep) W(rep), E.
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