- Scarlets
Rugby team
teamname = Scarlets
nickname = Sospans
shortname = Scarlets
location =Llanelli ,Wales
country
founded = 2003
ground =Stradey Park
"Parc y Scarlets " (Nov 2008)
capacity = 10,800
14,340
chairman = flagicon|WAL Stuart Gallacher
coach = flagicon|WALNigel Davies
captain = flagicon|IRE|rugbySimon Easterby
top scorer = flagicon|WALGareth Bowen (616)
most tries = flagicon|WAL Barry Davies (36)
league = Magners League
season = 2007-08
position = 6th
url = www.scarlets.co.uk
pattern_la1 =_scarlets| pattern_b1=_scarlets| pattern_ra1=_scarlets| leftarm1=FF0000| body1=FF0000| rightarm1=FF0000| shorts1=FFFFFF| socks1=FF0000
pattern_la2 =_scarlets2| pattern_b2=_scarlets2| pattern_ra2=_scarlets2| leftarm2=000060| body2=000060| rightarm2=000060| shorts2=000060| socks2=000060The Scarlets are a Welsh professionalrugby union team based in south-west Wales. They play in the Magners League, as well as competing in theEDF Energy Cup and theHeineken Cup . 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. [cite news |title=Scarlets drop Llanelli from name |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/my_club/llanelli_scarlets/7610188.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=2008-09-11 |accessdate=2008-09-11 ]The Llanelli Scarlets were founded in 2003, as one of the five (now four) teams of the regional rugby era that was introduced by the
Welsh Rugby Union (WRU). The Scarlets are represented by theLlanelli RFC ,Carmarthen RFC ,Llandovery RFC andNarberth RFC . Through the 2007-08 season, they played most of their games atStradey Park inLlanelli , but they have also played matches at theRacecourse Ground inWrexham . The club's new stadium, "Parc y Scarlets " ( _en. Scarlets Park), is currently under construction in nearby Pemberton and is scheduled to open in November 2008.History
Formation
In 2003, the WRU controversially elected to reduce the current top tier of Welsh professional rugby from nine clubs into five regions, attempting to mirror the successful formats in
Ireland and theSouthern Hemisphere countries ofSouth Africa ,Australia andNew Zealand .Initially it was planned to have a region playing at Stradey Park, with players coming from Llanelli, Swansea and Neath. [cite news |title=WRU drops provincial bombshell |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/celtic/2547339.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=
2003-02-20 |accessdate=2006-12-05 ] This was then modified to have Llanelli and Swansea merging whilst Neath joined with Bridgend. Llanelli were opposed to both plans and requested stand-alone status. [cite news |title=Moffett scraps northern expansion |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/celtic/2639325.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=2003-01-08 |accessdate=2006-12-05 ] Eventually Llanelli (along with Cardiff) were allowed to stand alone. [cite news |title=Layman's guide to Welsh rugby's crisis |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/welsh/2845137.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=2003-03-12 |accessdate=2006-12-05 ] On7 July 2003 , the Llanelli Scarlets brand was officially launched. [cite news |title=Scarlets launch regional vision |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/welsh/3051870.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=2003-07-07 |accessdate=2006-12-05 ]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 asWrexham . Ownership of the Scarlets brand is in the hands ofLlanelli RFC which also runs a second team in thePrincipality 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 forth into their inaugural season. They reached the last eight of the2003-04 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 withNorthampton 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. Nonetheless, they were defeated by French clubBiarritz Olympique 27-10 in the quarter-final.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 and were even less successful in the Heineken Cup. The Scarlets won just two of their six pool games, leaving them third in the pool behind
Northampton Saints and Toulouse. The salvation of their season came in reaching the final of theCeltic Cup , where they lost 26-17 to Munster.In the 2005-06 season, the Scarlets again failed to qualify from their Heineken Cup group and finished 6th in the Celtic League. They did however find more success in the newly-restructured Powergen Cup. After finishing at the top of their pool, they defeated Bath by one point in the semi-finals, setting up a dream final for the organisers, who were determined that cross-border competition was the way forward. The Twickenham final was a tragic let-down for the Scarlets, with several international players missing, and they eventually went down 26 points to 10 to
London Wasps . In the Heineken Cup, it was a similar story to the previous season, with the Scarlets winning two of their six fixtures, and they finished third in the pool again, behind Toulouse and Wasps. However, their sixth place finish in the Celtic League secured a place in the Heineken Cup tournament for the 2006-07 season as the second best 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. [cite news |title=Scarlets unveil Davies as coach |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/welsh/4790797.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=2006-08-14 |accessdate=2006-12-05 ] 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. Currently there is opposition by local residents of 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 is "extremely unlikely that (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 believe however that the infrastructure, such as roads and schools, will not cope with 450 new houses being built on the site. On November 28 2006, the regions secured investment from Tim Griffiths, a London-based businessman. [cite news | title = Scarlets 'saved' by new investor | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/my_club/llanelli_scarlets/6191096.stm | publisher = BBC News | date = 2006-11-28 | accessdate = 2006-12-05]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 would be joined two hours later by Biarritz). The Scarlets beat current holders Munster 24-15 atStradey 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 the 30th of April 2008Phil Davies got controversially sacked from the Scarlets. The reasons for his departure remains unclear but it is believed that he found out by media before being noted by the Chairman Stuart Gallacher.Home ground
From 2003 through the 2007-08 season, the Scarlets played most of their home matches at Llanelli's
Stradey Park (which is also the home of the Llanelli RFC). However, they have played several games in North Wales, atWrexham 'sRacecourse Ground , to promote the region's geographical representation. The 2006-07 season was planned to be the last season played at Stradey Park, which will subsequently 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 are scheduled to play their last ever game at Stradey Park on 24 October against Bristol, and to play their first game at Parc y Scarlets on 28 November against Munster.The new home of the Scarlets and Llanelli RFC, to be known as "
Parc y Scarlets " (English: Scarlets Park), [cite news |title=Scarlets unveil new stadium name |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/my_club/llanelli_scarlets/7410473.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=2008-05-20 |accessdate=2008-05-20 |language= |quote= |archiveurl= |archivedate= ] is under construction at Pemberton. The new stadium will cost £23million to be constructed and will seat up to 14,340 spectators. [cite news |title=Scarlets stadium work goes online |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_west/7334454.stm |publisher=BBC News |date=2008-04-07 |accessdate=2008-05-20 ] It is expected that the stadium will be open by November 2008. The stadium's main stand will be located on the south side of the ground, and will house 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 convert|20|m tall. Outside the stadium will be a training barn for the players, as well as a training pitch and athletics track. The remainder of the site will be taken up by a retail park, which will feature stores such asMorrisons . [cite web |url=http://www.scarlets.co.uk/stadium/ |title=The new Llanelli Scarlets stadium |accessdate=2008-02-18 |date=2008-02-15 |publisher=scarlets.co.uk ]Players
Current squad
As of
1 July 2008 , according to official website. [cite web |url=http://www.scarlets.co.uk/the-region/players.aspx |title=Llanelli Scarlets Players |accessdate=2008-07-01 |publisher=scarlets.co.uk ]Notable former players
rs player | nat = TGA | pos = LK | name =
Inoke Afeaki - Signed for French club Grenoble in June 2007rs player | nat = WAL | pos = FB | name =Lee Byrne - Currently playing for local rivals Ospreysrs player | nat = WAL | pos = FB | name = Barry Davies - Welsh international; signed for French club Brive in June 2007. Leading try scorer as of the start of the 2008–09 season.rs player | nat = WAL | pos = PR | name = John Davies - Reached 100 Celtic League appearances for Llanelli Scarlets; now Llanelli Scarlets academy coachrs player | nat = WAL | pos = CE | name =Leigh Davies - Moved to the Ospreys, but was released after one season.rs player | nat = WAL | pos = FB | name =Garan Evans - Retired after 2007-08 season. Current Team Managerrs player | nat = USA | pos = FH | name =Mike Hercus - Later with theNewport Gwent Dragons ; has now returned to the USA at Belmont Shorers player | nat = WAL | pos = HK | name =Robin McBryde - Current Welsh Forwards Coachrs player | nat = WAL | pos = SH | name = Michael Phillips - Moved to play forCardiff Blues , currently with Ospreys.rs player | nat = WAL | pos = SH | name =Dwayne Peel - Welsh international; signed for Sale in 2008rs player | nat = WAL | pos = N8 | name =Alix Popham - Welsh international; signed for French club Brive in 2008rs player | nat = WAL | pos = WG | name =Wayne Proctor - Current record holder for most tries in Welsh league and record try scorer forLlanelli RFC rs player | nat = WAL | pos = N8 | name =Scott Quinnell - FormerLlanelli RFC coach and Scarlets forwards coachrs player | nat = WAL | pos = CE | name = Mark Taylor - Moved to play forSale Sharks in theGuinness Premiership , but now playing for local rivals Ospreysrs player | nat = WAL | pos = CE | name =Matthew Watkins - Welsh international; signed for Gloucester in 2008rs player | nat = WAL | pos = LK | name =Chris Wyatt - Currently playing for Bourgoin.Results and statistics
Celtic League
Anglo-Welsh Cup
Honours
*Celtic League: 2004
ee also
*
Llanelli RFC
*Scarlet FM References
External links
* [http://www.scarlets.co.uk/ Llanelli Scarlets official site] en icon cy icon
* [http://wru.co.uk/71_178.php Llanelli Scarlets] on WRU.co.uk
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/southwest/sites/sport/pages/scarlets.shtml Llanelli Scarlets] on BBC.co.uk
* [http://www.itsrugby.co.uk/equipe-llanelli.html Llanelli on itsrugby.co.uk]
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