Scarlets

For other uses, see Scarlet (disambiguation).
Scarlets
Union Welsh Rugby Union
Founded 2003 (2003)
Location Llanelli, Wales
Ground(s) Parc y Scarlets (Capacity: 14,870)
Chairman Nigel Short
CEO Darran Phillips [1]
President Phil Bennett[2]
Coach(es) Wayne Pivac
Captain(s) Ken Owens
Most caps Vernon Cooper (369)[3]
Top scorer Stephen Jones (2,850)[3]
Most tries Wayne Proctor (173)[3]
League(s) Pro12
2014–15 6th
1st kit
2nd kit
Official website
www.scarlets.co.uk

The Scarlets are one of the four professional Welsh regional rugby union teams. Based in Llanelli, south-west Wales the team play at the Parc y Scarlets stadium. They play in the Pro12, as well as competing in the Anglo-Welsh Cup and the European Rugby Champions Cup (which replaced the Heineken Cup from the 2014-15 season). The region was originally named the Llanelli Scarlets but was renamed at the start of the 2008–09 rugby season, following the lead of the Ospreys in 2005.[4]

The Llanelli Scarlets were founded in 2003, as one of the five (now four) regional teams created by the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU). The Scarlets are affiliated with a number of semi-professional and amateur clubs throughout the area, including Welsh Premier Division sides Llanelli RFC, Carmarthen Quins RFC and Llandovery RFC. Through the 2007–08 season, they played most of their games at Stradey Park in Llanelli, but they have also played matches at the Racecourse Ground in Wrexham. The club's new stadium, Parc y Scarlets (English: Scarlets Park), was constructed in nearby Pemberton, and opened in November 2008.[5]

History

Formation

A diagram showing the representation of the regions throughout Wales as they exist today

In 2003, the WRU elected to reduce the top tier of Welsh professional rugby from nine clubs into five regions during the introduction of regional rugby union teams in Wales, attempting to mirror the successful formats in Ireland, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.

Initially, it was planned to have a region playing at Stradey Park, with players coming from Llanelli, Swansea and Neath.[6] This was then modified to have Llanelli and Swansea merging, while Neath joined with Bridgend. Llanelli were opposed to both plans and requested standalone status.[7] Eventually, Llanelli and Cardiff were allowed to remain independent.[8] The Llanelli Scarlets brand was officially launched on 7 July 2003.[9]

The Scarlets officially represent the whole of West and North Wales, based mostly around Llanelli, although attempts have been made at taking the club to other outposts such as Wrexham. Ownership of the Scarlets brand is in the hands of Llanelli RFC, which also runs a second team in the Principality Premiership in the same way as Cardiff.

2003–present

Largely drawn from the very successful Llanelli RFC side of the preceding year, the Scarlets carried that success forward into their inaugural season. They reached the last eight of the 2003–04 Heineken Cup and finished the Celtic League season as champions by four points over Ulster. In the Heineken Cup, the Scarlets were drawn in Pool Four along with Northampton Saints, Agen and Border Reivers. The Scarlets won five of their six matches, losing only to Agen, and finished at the top of their pool before losing to French club Biarritz 27–10 in the quarter-final.

Scarlets players during a league match against Glasgow Warriors in 2006

The following season, however, was less successful. Plagued by injuries and retirements, as well as the transfer of influential fly-half Stephen Jones to Clermont, the Scarlets finished a disappointing fifth in the league. They were even less successful in the Heineken Cup, winning just two of their six pool games to finish third in the pool behind Northampton Saints and Toulouse. The salvation of their season came in reaching the final of the Celtic Cup, in which they lost 26–17 to Munster.

The Scarlets again failed to qualify from their Heineken Cup group in 2005–06 and finished sixth in the Celtic League. They did, however, find more success in the newly restructured Anglo-Welsh Cup. After finishing at the top of their pool, they defeated Bath by one point in the semi-finals to reach the final against London Wasps at Twickenham; missing several international players, they lost 26–10. In the Heineken Cup, it was a similar story to the previous season, with the Scarlets winning two of their six fixtures to finish third in the pool again, behind Toulouse and Wasps. Despite finishing sixth in the Celtic League, the team qualified for the Heineken Cup for the 2006–07 season as the second-best-placed Welsh team in the league. They also re-signed Stephen Jones and full-back Barry Davies extended his contract to stay with the Scarlets. The Scarlets' Director of Rugby, Gareth Jenkins, had been appointed as Wales' national team coach, having been with the region since its inception. Phil Davies, then coach of Leeds Tykes, replaced Jenkins at the Scarlets.[10]

At the first home game of the 2006–07 season, an information sheet was handed out to supporters with details of the club's financial situation. There was opposition by local residents to plans by the Scarlets to move to a new stadium and sell their current ground for housing development. The information sheet stated that, due to delays caused by the opposition and benefactors pulling out of the club, it was "extremely unlikely that [the Llanelli Scarlets] could survive to the end of the present season unless other financial assistance is found", which would result in "the loss, probably for all time, of professional rugby in West Wales." Local residents believed, however, that the infrastructure, such as roads and schools, will not cope with 450 new houses being built on the site. On 28 November 2006, the regions secured investment from Tim Griffiths, a London-based businessman.[11]

Scarlets players compete a line-out in a match against Benetton Treviso in 2013

In the 2006–07 Heineken Cup, the Scarlets recorded one of the most famous victories in their brief history as a region, defeating Toulouse 41–34 away, despite twice trailing by 21 points. This was an unexpected victory, despite the Scarlets having won their first three games of the 2006–07 competition. They later secured their place in the Heineken Cup quarter-final with a convincing 35–11 win over Ulster at Ravenhill. The Scarlets went on to become only the fifth team in the history of the competition to win all their pool matches. They beat current holders Munster 24–15 at Stradey Park in the quarter-finals, but were beaten 33–17 in the semis by a strong Leicester side, putting an end to their hopes of making it 'third time lucky' in Heineken Cup semi-finals. On 30 April 2008, Phil Davies was controversially sacked as the Scarlets' head coach. The reasons for his departure remain unclear, but it is believed that he found out via the media before being informed by club chairman Stuart Gallacher.

The Scarlets moved from Stradey Park at the end of November 2008 to a new ground at Pemberton called Parc y Scarlets. The final Scarlets match played at Stradey Park was on 24 October 2008, against Bristol in the group stage of the Anglo-Welsh Cup. The Scarlets won 27–0 in front of a capacity crowd, which included former Llanelli captains such as Delme Thomas and Phil Bennett.[12]

The Scarlets' first match at their new home was an 18–16 Celtic League defeat to Munster on 28 November 2008.[13] Their first Heineken Cup match at Parc y Scarlets was held on 12 December against Ulster which ended in a 16–16 draw.[14] Both matches were held with reduced capacity, as law requires that a new stadium hold three events at reduced capacity before it is authorised for its full capacity. The official opening ceremony was on 31 January 2009 when the Scarlets faced the Barbarians.

In May 2014, it was confirmed that the four Welsh regions would compete in the annual Premiership Sevens Series after a three-year deal was agreed with BT Sport.[15]

Name and colours

Scarlets logos
2003–2008
2008–

The Scarlets took their name from the nickname of Llanelli RFC, their main feeder club. Llanelli have played in red since 1884 when they played a game against a touring Ireland side.[16] This close link with Llanelli RFC has also led to the Scarlets adopting the scarlet red colour for their primary jerseys, with their secondary colours generally being blue.

The region was originally named the Llanelli Scarlets, but was renamed at the start of the 2008–09 rugby season to more accurately represent the area covered by the region.[17]

Kit suppliers

Period Kit providers
2003–04 – 2008–09 Kooga
2009–10 Rhino
2010–11 – 2013–14 BURRDA
2014–15 – present Kooga

Current kit

The kit is supplied by Kooga with BT Sport at the centre of the front of the shirt with Gravellas appearing on the far top left and the far top right of the front of the shirt. LG: Lloyd & Gravell ltd and Llanelli Star appear on their left sleeve while Castle Howell Bwydydd Foods appear on their right sleeves. Coleg sir gar and Worthington's appear at the top of the back of their shirt. John Francis appear on the left of their front shorts and below is the website www john francai s co uk while CK food stores appear on the top of their back shorts while INA appear on the left of their back shorts while 7-D appear on the right of their back shorts.

Stadium

Scarlets current home ground, Parc y Scarlets

From 2003 to the 2007–08 season, the Scarlets played most of their home matches at Llanelli's Stradey Park (also the home of Llanelli RFC). However, they have played several games in North Wales, at Wrexham's Racecourse Ground, to promote the region's geographical representation. The 2006–07 season was planned to be the last season played at Stradey Park, which was subsequently to be demolished for the building of apartments. The Scarlets played every home game of the 2006–07 season at Stradey Park to commemorate the historic ground. They played their last game at Stradey Park on 24 October 2008 against Bristol, and their first game at Parc y Scarlets on 28 November 2008 against Munster.

The new home of the Scarlets and Llanelli RFC, known as Parc y Scarlets (English: Scarlets Park),[18] is in Pemberton. The new stadium cost £23 million to be constructed and holds 14,340 spectators.[19] The first game held at the stadium was Llanelli RFC versus Cardiff RFC held on 15 November 2008.[20] The stadium's main stand is located on the south side of the ground, and houses the new Scarlets museum and club shop, as well as a sports bar, the players' changing rooms and a players' gym. Stadium blueprints planned for the main stand to be about 20 metres (66 ft) tall. Outside the stadium there is a training barn for the players, as well as a training pitch and athletics track. The remainder of the site is taken up by the Parc Trostre retail park.[21]

Current squad

For player movements leading up to the 2016–17 season, see List of 2016–17 Pro12 transfers#Scarlets.

2015-16 Note: Flags indicate national union as has been defined under WR eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-WR nationality.

Player Position Union
Ryan Elias Hooker Wales Wales
Kirby Myhill Hooker Wales Wales
Torin Myhill Hooker Wales Wales
Ken Owens (c) Hooker Wales Wales
Emyr Phillips Hooker Wales Wales
Taylor Davies Prop Wales Wales
Peter Edwards* Prop England England
Dylan Evans* Prop Australia Australia
Rob Evans Prop Wales Wales
Phil John Prop Wales Wales
Rhodri Jones ‡ Prop Wales Wales
Wyn Jones Prop Wales Wales
Samson Lee ‡ Prop Wales Wales
Ben Leung Prop Wales Wales
Will Taylor Prop Wales Wales
Jake Ball ‡ Lock Wales Wales
David Bulbring Lock South Africa South Africa
George Earle* Lock South Africa South Africa
Josh Helps Lock Wales Wales
Maselino Paulino Lock Samoa Samoa
Tom Price* Lock England England
John Barclay Flanker Scotland Scotland
Will Boyde Flanker Wales Wales
James Davies Flanker Wales Wales
Josh Macleod Flanker Wales Wales
Jack Payne* Flanker Australia Australia
Tom Phillips Flanker Wales Wales
Lewis Rawlins Flanker Wales Wales
Aaron Shingler Flanker Wales Wales
Morgan Allen Number 8 Wales Wales
Jack Condy Number 8 Wales Wales
Rory Pitman Number 8 Wales Wales
Player Position Union
Aled Davies Scrum-half Wales Wales
Gareth Davies Scrum-half Wales Wales
Kieran Hardy Scrum-half Wales Wales
Connor Lloyd Scrum-half Wales Wales
Rhodri Williams Scrum-half Wales Wales
Dan Jones Fly-half Wales Wales
Josh Lewis Fly-half Wales Wales
Steven Shingler Fly-half Wales Wales
Aled Thomas Fly-half Wales Wales
Michael Collins* Centre New Zealand New Zealand
Steffan Hughes Centre Wales Wales
Regan King Centre New Zealand New Zealand
Ioan Nicholas Centre Wales Wales
Matthew Owen Centre Wales Wales
Hadleigh Parkes Centre New Zealand New Zealand
Scott Williams ‡ Centre Wales Wales
Jacob Cowley Wing New Zealand New Zealand
Harry Robinson Wing Wales Wales
Michael Tagicakibau Wing Fiji Fiji
D. T. H. van der Merwe Wing Canada Canada
Jordan Williams Wing Wales Wales
Steffan Evans Fullback Wales Wales
Gareth Owen Fullback Wales Wales
Liam Williams Fullback Wales Wales
Tom Williams (loan) Fullback Wales Wales

British and Irish Lions

The following players were selected for the British and Irish Lions touring squads whilst playing for the Scarlets:

Stephen Jones was also selected for the 2005 Lions tour whilst playing for Clermont Auvergne. Former Scarlets Scott Quinnell, Robin McBryde and Dafydd James were also selected for the Lions on the 2001 tour to Australia while playing for Llanelli RFC.[22]

Notable former players

Players who have won over 20 international caps and have played for the Scarlets in the past:

Coaching staff

Head coaches

Name Tenure
Wales Gareth Jenkins 2003–2006[23]
Wales Phil Davies 2006–2008[23]
Wales Nigel Davies 2008–2012[24]
Ireland Simon Easterby 2012–2014[24]
New Zealand Wayne Pivac 2014–[23]

Current backroom staff

Correct as of 30 June 2014

Name Title
New Zealand Wayne Pivac Head coach
Wales Garan Evans Team manager
Wales Stephen Jones Backs coach
Wales Byron Hayward Defence coach
Wales Ioan Cunningham Academy skills coach
Wales Huw Davies Head of strength and conditioning
Wales Rhys Jones Assistant strength and conditioning coach
Andrew Walker Physiotherapist
Jo Raper Physiotherapist
Matthew Rees Physiotherapist
Wales Joe Lewis Head Analyst

Results and statistics

Seasons

Celtic League / Pro12

Season Pos Played Won Drawn Lost Bonus Points
2003–04 1st 22 16 1 5 10 76
2004–05 5th 20 9 0 11 10 46
2005–06 6th 22 10 1 9 7 57[n 1]
2006–07 4th 20 12 0 8 9 57
2007–08 6th 18 7 0 11 10 39
2008–09 5th 18 9 0 9 4 40
2009–10 9th 18 5 0 13 9 29
2010–11 5th 22 12 1 9 12 62
2011–12 5th 22 12 2 8 10 62
2012–13 4th 22 15 0 7 6 66
Semi-final Ulster 28 – 17 Scarlets
2013–14 6th 22 11 1 10 9 55
2014–15 6th 22 11 3 8 7 57
  1. ↑ 11 teams were involved in this season, so one team did not play each week and were awarded 4 points instead.
    Therefore, each team finished the season with 8 more points than the table would seem to warrant.

Celtic Cup

Season Round Match
2003–04 Quarter-final Llanelli Scarlets 12 – 14 Connacht
2004–05 Final Munster 27 – 16 Llanelli Scarlets

Heineken Cup / Rugby Champions Cup

Season Pool/Round Pos Played Won Drawn Lost Bonus Points
2003–04 Pool 41st6501323
Quarter-final Llanelli Scarlets 10 – 27 Biarritz Olympique
2004–05 Pool 33rd6204513
2005–06 Pool 63rd6204412
2006–07 Pool 51st6600327
Quarter-final Llanelli Scarlets 24 – 15 Munster
Semi-final Leicester Tigers 33 – 17 Llanelli Scarlets
2007–08 Pool 54th600600
2008–09 Pool 44th611428
2009–10 (HC) Pool 62nd6402117
2009–10 (ACC) Quarter-final RC Toulonnais 38 – 12 Scarlets
2010–11 Pool 53rd6303315
2011–12 (HC) Pool 12nd6303315
2011–12 (ACC) Quarter-final Brive 15 – 11 Scarlets
2012–13 Pool 54th600622
2013–14 Pool 43rd6213111
2014–15 Pool 34th620408

Anglo-Welsh Cup

Season Group/Round Pos Played Won Drawn Lost Bonus Points
2005–06 Group C1st3300012
Semi-final Llanelli Scarlets 27–26 Bath Rugby
Final London Wasps 26–10 Llanelli Scarlets
2006–07 Group C3rd310215
2007–08 Group D2nd3201311
2008–09 Group D2nd320108
2009–10 Pool 22nd4211111
2010–11 Pool 33rd420219
2011–12 Pool 31st4301315
Semi-final Northampton Saints 27–12 Llanelli Scarlets
2012–13 Pool 33rd420208
2013–14 Pool 43rd420208
2014–15 Pool 34th410315

Honours

ERC Elite Awards

For the 10th anniversary season of the Heineken Cup, ERC, the tournament organisers, introduced the ERC Elite Awards scheme to recognise and reward the players and teams who have made outstanding contributions to the tournament. The Scarlets were awarded the ERC team award for playing 50 games,[25] and Robin McBryde, John Davies, Dafydd James and Iestyn Thomas were recognised for having made 50 appearances in the competition.[26]

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://www.scarlets.co.uk/eng/news/7163.php
  2. ↑ http://www.scarlets.co.uk/eng/news/4060.php
  3. 1 2 3 "Player Records". scarlets.co.uk. The Scarlets. Retrieved 30 June 2012.
  4. ↑ "Scarlets drop Llanelli from name". BBC Sport. 11 September 2008. Retrieved 11 September 2008.
  5. ↑ "Llanelli open new home in style". BBC News. 15 November 2008. Retrieved 23 May 2010.
  6. ↑ "WRU drops provincial bombshell". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). 20 February 2003. Retrieved 5 December 2006.
  7. ↑ "Moffett scraps northern expansion". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). 8 January 2003. Retrieved 5 December 2006.
  8. ↑ "Layman's guide to Welsh rugby's crisis". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). 12 March 2003. Retrieved 5 December 2006.
  9. ↑ "Scarlets launch regional vision". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). 7 July 2003. Retrieved 5 December 2006.
  10. ↑ "Scarlets unveil Davies as coach". BBC Sport. 14 August 2006. Retrieved 5 December 2006.
  11. ↑ "Scarlets 'saved' by new investor". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). 28 November 2006. Retrieved 5 December 2006.
  12. ↑ "Scarlets win on Stradey farewell". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). 24 October 2008. Retrieved 18 November 2008.
  13. ↑ "Scarlets 16–18 Munster". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). 28 November 2008. Retrieved 26 December 2008.
  14. ↑ Roberts, Gareth (12 December 2008). "Scarlets 16–16 Ulster". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). Retrieved 26 December 2008.
  15. ↑ "Welsh regions included in Premiership Sevens Series". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). 21 May 2014. Retrieved 23 March 2015.
  16. ↑ http://www.scarlets.co.uk/eng/heritage/history.php |accessdate=30 June 2012
  17. ↑ "Scarlets drop Llanelli from name". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). 11 September 2008. Retrieved 11 September 2008.
  18. ↑ "Scarlets unveil new stadium name". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). 20 May 2008. Retrieved 20 May 2008.
  19. ↑ "Scarlets stadium work goes online". BBC News (British Broadcasting Corporation). 7 April 2008. Retrieved 20 May 2008.
  20. ↑ "Llanelli open new home in style". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). 15 November 2008. Retrieved 26 December 2008.
  21. ↑ "The new Llanelli Scarlets stadium". scarlets.co.uk. The Scarlets. 15 February 2008. Archived from the original on 19 February 2008. Retrieved 18 February 2008.
  22. ↑ "Scarlets Lions". scarlets.co.uk. Scarlets. Archived from the original on 4 May 2009. Retrieved 30 June 2009.
  23. 1 2 3 "Scarlets unveil Davies as coach". BBC News. 14 August 2006.
  24. 1 2 "Nigel Davies named as Gloucester coach after leaving Scarlets". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). 2 June 2012. Retrieved 23 March 2015.
  25. ↑ http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/elite/team_awards.php
  26. ↑ http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/elite/fifty_tournament_caps.php

External links

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