Scotland prop Alec Hepburn will play in the United Rugby Championship next season after agreeing a deal to join Scarlets. 

The 31-year-old will leave Exeter Chiefs at the end of the season after almost 200 appearances for the club. 

He played 179 for the English side and helped them to two Premiership titles and a Champions Cup success during his nine years. 

He'll now move on to join Scarlets though and hope to help the struggling Welsh side have a better season next year with them missing out on the play-offs for the URC this season. 

As well as his four appearance for Scotland, Hepburn previously picked up six caps for England before making his debut for Gregor Townsend's side during this year's Six Nations tournament.

And he admits it is difficult to leave Exeter but he is looking forward to the future in Wales. 

Scotland Rugby News: Scotland's Alec Hepburn (left) and Elliot Millar-Mills celebrate with the Doddie Weir Cup

He said: “My way of dealing with the prospect of leaving is by looking forward – the front windscreen is bigger than the rearview mirror. And because, if I do look back, it’ll probably make me a bit emotional.

“Being a Chief has been amazing. I can’t believe I was here at 21 and I’m getting ready to leave at 31. It’s all gone very quickly.

“Running out at Sandy Park is very special, very unique. A lot of teams around the country don’t have the same support that we do. Exeter’s just a brilliant community where you feel that the team is at the forefront of what is good.

“It’s hard to summarise but I’ve always thought being a Chief meant playing with a lot of heart, a lot of passion, and to play for each other. I’d like to thank Exeter Chiefs and all the supporters – it’s been an amazing ride. To say it’s been a huge part of my life is an understatement, so thank you.”