Scarlets v Ospreys match-day programme

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01.01.22 I united rugby championship

IN THIS FEATURE

SCARLETS Vs ospreys

CONTENTS 5

Chairman’s message

7

Coach’s column

9

Player profile - Johnny McNicholl

CLUB DIRECTORY Scarlets Regional, Parc y Scarlets, Parc Pemberton, Llanelli, SA14 9UZ Website: www.scarlets.wales Phone: 01554 783900 Email: comments@scarlets.wales Twitter: @scarlets_rugby Facebook: Official Scarlets Instagram: @ scarlets_rugby Youtube: @ScarletsTV Shop Macron Siop Phone: 01554 783932 Website: scarletsmacronshop.com Ticket office I Swyddfa Docynnau Phone: 01554 292939 Website: tickets.scarlets.wales

Officers I Swyddogion

12

SCARLETS NEWS

20

Flashback

28

A focus on our opposition

40

A diary of South Africa (and Belfast!)

43

Test your rugby knowledge

45

Commercial news

48

Remembering Dai Chips

Chairman I Cadeirydd: Simon Muderack President I Llywydd: Phil Bennett Chief Operating Officer I Prif Swyddog Gweithredol: Phil Morgan General Manager of Rugby I Rheolwr Rygbi Cyffredinol: Jon Daniels Chaplain I Caplan Reverend Eldon Phillips Historian I Hanesydd Les Willaims

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Y Cyfarwyddwyr Simon Muderack Philip Davies Robin Cammish Jon Daniels Sean Fitzpatrick Emyr Wyn Evans Huw Evans Brian Jones Ron Jones

Phil Morgan David Owen Bleddyn Phillips Nigel Short Granville Wise Rupert Moon & Gareth Jenkins (Heritage Board members)

PROGRAMME I RHAGLEN

64

Tonight’s teams

3

Editor/Golygydd Rob Lloyd Photography/Ffotograffiaeth Huw Evans Picture Agency Riley Sports Photography Design/Cynllunio Adam Bourne - Galant Designs Aimee McHugh - Scarlets

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BUSINESS CLUB CLWB BUSNES

I ndependent Family F u n er al D ir ect or

CSI

DM James Services

Jason & Ann Jones Jason O'Malley

Roger Evans

SCARLETS Vs ospreys

CHAIRMANS MESSAGE

SIMON Blwyddyn newydd dda! Happy New Year! We welcome in 2022 like we did 2021, with no supporters in the stadium and Covid-19 still a huge part of our lives.

We were all looking forward to welcoming bumper crowds over the festive derby season and we are bitterly disappointed that we have not been able to do that.

I was at Twickenham on Monday, part of a 70,000–plus attendance for the Gallagher Premiership ‘Big Game’ between Harlequins and Northampton Saints. I am sure Scarlets supporters would have been watching on and feeling disappointed with the cards that we have been dealt.

Yes, we are disappointed - these derby matches are significant for us, the visit of the Ospreys always attracts one of our biggest crowds of the season and we were headed for a sell out in terms of attendees and hospitality.

But we will continue to work with the Welsh Government over the next few weeks and months to get you back through the turnstiles. We have to respect the decision of the government and peoples’ health and safety will always be our utmost priority.

Reflecting on 2021, we started the year with Parc y Scarlets home to two Nightingale field hospitals. In the summer, we were able to reconnect with our community game through a fabulous bike ride across the region that saw Sean Fitzpatrick and our team visit all our 53 clubs.

On the field, under Dwayne Peel and his coaching team we are putting in place a long-term plan to get the Scarlets to where we want to be among Europe’s elite and are excited by the young talent that is coming through the ranks. We are also committed to strengthening the squad

5

for next season and beyond.

We have always been proud of the Scarlets development pathway that keeps on producing players for the international stage and it was a huge source of pride for us to see a recordequalling four players selected for the British & Irish Lions tour this summer.

Others have played international rugby for Wales, and Scotland, for the first time and I’m sure there will be more to follow in 2022.

As we take on the Ospreys today our thoughts and well wishes are very much with Ifan Phillips and his family following his recent motorcycle accident. Ifan spent a short time at the Scarlets on loan in 2020 and was a popular addition to the squad during his few weeks here. It has been amazing to see the rugby community come together to raise funds to help his recovery and there are details on how you can donate in this match programme.

A warm welcome to the players, staff and officials of the Ospreys.

To our supporters, I’m sure you will all be here in spirit and I can’t wait until we are all back here at the Parc, sooner rather than later.

Blwyddyn newydd dda i bob un o’n cefnogwyr Simon

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SCARLETS Vs ospreys

MESSAGE FROM THE HEAD COACH

DWAYNE Blwyddyn Newydd Dda! It would be amazing if I could be writing here about welcoming all our fans to a packed Parc y Scarlets for what promises to be a fantastic West Wales derby this evening.

Yes, it is tough to get up physically and mentally for a game only for it not to happen at the last minute, but the message that has been driven within the squad is that we have to be ready to go again.

Unfortunately, that’s not the case which is a huge disappointment to us all.

The boys are professionals, they want to be out there playing rugby and thankfully, we have managed to get over the line for this game.

We all know and recognise what this match means to our supporters, it is the one game we all search for first when the fixtures come out and just looking back at footage of previous matches between the two sides, a full house crammed in here makes it an incredible occasion and one I was really looking forward to.

We understand the reasons why restrictions have been brought in and hopefully it won’t be too long before we can welcome you back here.

A lot has happened since our last competitive game against Benetton back in October and it’s certainly been a frustrating few weeks for everyone since we came out of isolation in Belfast.

Firstly, Bordeaux was postponed and then the Cardiff match, which was disappointing for everyone. The boys had really trained well and we felt we were in a good place going into that Boxing Day clash, but in fairness to all the players they have had to move on quickly and they have done that.

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Credit too to all our back-room staff for all the work they have done in the face of plenty of challenges over recent weeks and months. From getting us home from South Africa, to keeping the boys engaged in quarantine, to ensuring we have been ready to go in all the games since, it really has been a team effort.

With Covid-19 still a big part of our lives, I’d like to thank the Scarlets Family for all your support in recent months and wish you all a Happy New Year with your loved ones.

Mwynhewch y gêm. Blwyddyn newydd dda i chi gyd.

Dwayne

01.01.22 I UNITED RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP

PLAYER FEATURE

SCARLETS Vs ospreys

J-Mac McNicholl enjoying slicing open defences after tough pre-season A quick glance at the Scarlets’ stats for the season will show why Johnny McNicholl is playing his rugby with a big broad smile on his face.

Most offloads, most metres run, joint most defenders beaten (with Steff Evans) and most tries. If it wasn’t the case that he hasn’t pulled on a Scarlets jersey since the round four loss to Leinster, he would be a contender for one of the form players in domestic rugby.

McNicholl transferred that impressive form into Wales’ autumn series and will be keen to keep on running into the New Year and beyond.

“He has been excellent,” said head coach Dwayne Peel. “Johnny trained really hard and put in a massive shift in pre-season. In terms of the numbers, he did the most meterage, so he’s trained really hard over the summer.

“He’s fit and you can see the benefits of that. I spoke to him at the start of the year and his goal was to try and get back in the Wales squad. He’s a good character, strong-willed, and he speaks his mind in the group. He’s a good asset for us.”

McNicholl headed back to New Zealand in the summer, an opportunity to see his family and for his two young daughters to spend some treasured time with their grandparents.

8

“I asked the club if I could go back because I hadn’t seen family for two and a half years and my kids hadn’t seen their grandparents,” he explained.

“It was the first time my youngest, Poppy, who is two now, had met her grandparents. It was the second time that my eldest daughter, August, who is three, had met them.

“It was brilliant. It was awesome.”

Of course, that trip down south included the mandatory spell in quarantine for travellers from the UK, which gave McNicholl an insight of what was to come when the Scarlets headed to Belfast for their 10-day stint post-South Africa.

“In New Zealand, I actually got a little bit of anxiety when I got out of quarantine because I hadn’t been around people for months with all the isolation! New Zealand was normal and it was weird being in crowds again. But now they’re back in lockdown and we’re all going through this omicron business.

“It did give me the upper hand on the boys (in Belfast), I knew what was coming, but it was still pretty tough.

After those 10 days, it was just nice to get back out, have some fresh air and go out when you wanted as well, that freedom.”

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01.01.22 I UNITED RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP

PLAYER FEATURE

It has been a strange few weeks postisolation for the Scarlets with matches against Bristol, Bordeaux-Begles and Cardiff falling to Covid restrictions.

“It’s been five matches cancelled in a row now, but at least we’ve had a couple of weeks training to brush off the cobwebs,” adds McNicholl.

“We’ve been looking good in training and want to get stuck into these derby matches.”

A sign of McNicholl at the top of his game is the confidence he brings to the Scarlets’ attack, the desire to counter from loose kicks or produce an audacious off-load “I think that’s come from playing since I was five years old,” says the former Crusader. “I’m not afraid to make mistakes. I try things and sometimes it might not work, I might throw an offload to the ground but I try to not let that affect me because I know that next time it could be a try-scoring opportunity. So I will still throw the offload again because they are the moments that can break games and they’re some of the biggest strengths that I bring.

“My biggest mindset is to go out and express myself, do those things and not worry if they don’t work. Next time it might work. If I have a bad day at the office, then I have a bad day but I’m not going to let that affect my performance.”

That philosophy has the full endorsement of his coach Peel added: “With players like Johnny, you give him the licence to go and play. That (counter-attacking) is his game and he’s good at it, as long as the risks are calculated.

SCARLETS Vs ospreys

“Like any player of that ilk, he may give up one or two turnovers but it’s not a negative of his game. His game is massively positive. He makes stuff happen.

“There’s a lot of talk about skill and flair going out of the game, so players like him are gold dust for us. He can do something out of nothing.

“You have to change the way you play with him. You expect an offload, expect a little back door now and again. I’d be massively encouraging that.”

As for McNicholl, he is equally comfortable at wing - where he starts this evening’s derby clash against the Ospreys - or preferably at full-back, where he featured in that opening block of URC fixtures and the Autumn matches against the All Blacks and Springboks.

“I asked Dwayne to play a lot more at full-back in the summer,” he adds.

“I just feel like that’s my best position.

This week, I’m on the wing and I’m happy to be there.

“I play like a full-back anyway when I’m on the wing. I go looking for the ball and I don’t really hang out on the wing. But I just wanted to show them that my best position is full-back, get my hands on the ball, that’s where I’m dangerous and they are the assets I bring to both Wales and the Scarlets.

“I seemed to do that in the early games and then in the New Zealand and South Africa Tests as well, so that was good.

“I enjoyed the autumn series, I enjoyed myself a lot. It came off the back of a really tough pre-season.

“Hopefully I can maintain that form.

We will see.”

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01.01.22 I UNITED RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP

news from the parc

SCARLETS Vs ospreys

scarlets

Scheduling for the United Rugby Championship up to R17 has been completed with adjustments made to cater for the majority of postponed and rescheduled fixtures.

To avoid further rescheduling in the immediate calendar, the R10 fixtures involving South African teams due to take place in Ireland and Italy have been rescheduled to the final weekend of February.

The postponed fixtures from R6 and R7 that were due to take place in South Africa (including Scarlets matches against the Cell C Sharks and Vodacom Bulls) will now be moved to the weekends of March 11/12 and March 18/19. More details about these fixtures will be confirmed after further discussions with key stakeholders involved are completed.

We are awaiting a further update from the URC regarding our postponed Boxing Day clash with Cardiff.

Scarlets’ Heineken Champions Cup round two match against Bordeaux-Begles, postponed because of new French government travel measures between the UK and France, is also due to be rescheduled. *********** Scarlets prop Wyn Jones has been named as the lone Welshman in World Rugby’s Dream Team of the year.

The loose-head prop played an integral role in Wales’ Six Nations triumph and was named in the team of the tournament,

12

earning himself selection for the British & Irish Lions’ tour of South Africa in the summer.

Players from eight nations – Wales, Australia, England, France, Ireland, New Zealand, Scotland and South Africa – have been selected in the Dream Team by the World Rugby awards panel. *********** Good luck to Wales international Tom Prydie who has joined Bath on loan after leaving the Scarlets in November.

Tom played 40 games during four seasons in Llanelli, scoring 19 tries, including one in the memorable European Champions Cup pool win over Toulon at Parc y Scarlets in 2018. His form at the Scarlets also earned him an international recall for Wales’s summer tour that year. *********** Javan Sebastian became the 244th player to represent the Scarlets on the international stage when he came off the bench for Scotland in their autumn series finale against Japan last month.

Carmarthen product Javan, a Wales U18s cap, qualifies for Scotland though his father who hails from Edinburgh and played his part in a hard-earned 29-20 victory for Gregor Townsend’s side.

The series also saw another Scarlets prop WillGriff John win his first international cap.

WillGriff came off the bench in Wales’ defeat to South Africa and started against Fiji the following week

01.01.22 I UNITED RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP

16 TEAMS, 2 HEMISPHERES, 1 LEAGUE

PL

W

D

L

BP

PF

PA

DIFF

TF

TA

TB

LB

PTS

1

LEINSTER

7

6

0

1

5

219

85

134

31

10

5

0

29

2

EDINBURGH

7

5

1

1

5

171 114

57

23

13

5

1

28

3

ULSTER

7

5

0

2

4

169 115

54

23

14

4

1

25

4

OSPREYS

7

5

0

2

1

142 159

-17

11

19

1

0

21

5

GLASGOW

7

4

0

3

3

160 138

22

21

16

3

2

21

6

BENETTON

8

4

0

4

3

180 192

-12

23

28

3

2

21

7

MUNSTER

5

4

0

1

3

149

84

65

20

7

3

0

19

8

CONNACHT

7

3

0

4

3

196 171

25

26

24

3

1

16

9

CARDIFF

5

3

0

2

1

120 114

6

12

10

1

1

14

10

LIONS

5

2

0

3

2

107 120

-13

11

16

2

1

11

11

SCARLETS

5

2

0

3

2

120 160

-40

14

22

2

1

11

12

SHARKS

5

2

0

3

0

115 129

-14

11

15

0

1

9

13

DRAGONS

7

1

0

6

2

131 174

-43

15

19

2

3

9

14

STORMERS

5

1

1

3

0

79

103

-24

9

13

0

1

7

15

bulls

5

1

0

4

0

65

131

-66

5

13

0

1

5

16

zebre

6

0

0

6

1

66

200 -134

8

29

1

0

1

CORRECT AT TIME OF PRINT AND ONLINE PUBLISHING - TO SEE MOST UP TO DATE TABLE VISIT www.unitedrugby.com/match-centre/table/202101

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01.01.22 I UNITED RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP

Enjoy responsibly

THE SPIRIT OF UNITED RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP. D I S C O V E R T H E S P I R I T W I T H I N | # S AV O U R T H E M O M E N T

MATCH ACTION

SCARLETS Vs OSPREYS

FULL TIME

34 28 BENETTON

SCARLETS BACKS

VS

parc y scarlets, wales FRI 22 OCT · ROUND 5

FORWARDS

15 i. nicholas

08 B. thomson

14 r. conbeer

07 s. evans

13 s. hughes

06 a. shingler

12 s. williams

05 j. price

11

04 s. lousi

s. evans

10 d. jones

03 s. lee

09 d. blacker

02 m. jones

4

TRIES

Evans 16’ Blacker 18’ Jones 54’ Blacker 64’ 4

duvenage 28’ Gallo 43. 57’ Menoncello 72’

CONS

jones 17,19,55’ o’brien 64’ 2 jones 49’ o’brien 70’

01 r. evans

4

4 smith 30,43,59,72

PENS

0

BACKS 15 a. coetzee

FORWARDS 08 b. steyn

14 t. menoncello 07 s. negri da ollegio 13 n. brex

06 g. pettinelli

12 m. zanon

05 c. wegner

11

04 i. herbst

m. ioane

10 r. smith

03 t. pasquali

09 d. duvenage

02 h. faiva 01 t. gallo

SUBS D. hughes, p. price, j. sebastian, l. ashley, i. rees, l. davies, a. o’brien, t. rogers.

SUBS g. nicotera, c. traore, i. nemer, f. ruzza, l. cannone, c. braley, l. marin, l. morisi

TRIES SCORED

4

4 POSSESSION %

42

58 CLEAN BREAKS

6

6 DEFENDERS BEATEN

12

17 OFFLOADS

6

11

REFEREE chris BUSBY

16

ASSISTANT REFEREE rhys jones

ASSISTANT REFEREE gareth NEWMAN

TMO brian MACNEICE

01.01.22 I united rugby championship

Scarlets claimed bonus-point win over Benetton Scarlets claimed a morale-boosting bonus-point win over Benetton, but it was a nerve-wracking United Rugby Championship contest that went down to the wire.

The home side crossed for four tries in all, two from scrum-half Dane Blacker to add to scores from front-rowers Rob Evans and Marc Jones in each half.

A combination of Dan Jones and Angus O’Brien added crucial points with the boot and in a match that fluctuated throughout, Scarlets were clinging on in an edge-of-the-seat finale.

The win owed a lot to a muchimproved defensive effort. The back row of Shaun Evans, Blade Thomson and Aaron Shingler, on his 200th appearance, worked tirelessly, while skipper Scott Williams produced a couple of magical touches to claim the player-of-the-match award.

On the back of heavy defeats to Munster and Leinster, the win will be a huge boost to head coach Dwayne Peel and his squad as the competition shuts down for an international break.

After Shingler, Rob Evans (150th appearance) and Steff Hughes (100th appearance) had led the side out, it was Benetton who pressed for an early score.

But it was the men in scarlet who were first over the whitewash on 16 minutes.

Blacker made the crucial break inside the Benetton 22, the forwards carried towards the line and eventually loose-head Evans ploughed his way between the posts for his second try of the campaign. Dan Jones landed the straightforward conversion.

Three minutes later and the home crowd were celebrating again, brought to their feet by a spectacular Scarlets special.

Handling straight out of the NBA from Steff Evans, Aaron Shingler and Sam Lousi found Williams; the centre dummied, sidestepped, then put his foot to the pedal to floor to race into

17

SCARLETS SCARLETS Vs EMIRATES Vs OSPREYS LIONS the visitors’ 22 before finding Blacker on his shoulder for a stunning try.

Jones’s conversion put the Scarlets 14-0 ahead, but the hosts had to dig deep for the remainder of the half as Benetton responded strongly.

After knocking on the door on a number of occasions, the Italians eventually found a way through courtesy of scrum-half and skipper Dewalt Duvenage, a try converted by South African compatriot Rhyno Smith.

Leading 14-7 at the break, the Scarlets went looking to put crucial daylight between the sides, but it was the hosts who were out of the blocks first and levelled matters three minutes after the restart thanks to a rampaging run from prop Thomas Gallo, a score confirmed after extensive consultation with the TMO. Jones landed a penalty to nudge Scarlets ahead, then after Steff Evans had a score chalked off, a rumbling forward drive saw Marc Jones emerge from under a pile of bodies for the score.

There was still plenty of drama to follow.

Gallo forced his way over for his second, but the game continued to swing from one end to the next.

Williams was involved again in Blacker’s second, picking up onehanded, breaking clear and finding the scrum-half haring alongside him once again for a try converted by replacement Angus O’Brien.

An O’Brien penalty extended the lead to 34-21 and the game looked done and dusted when Steff Evans picked up a loose ball and raced away to the corner.

However, the TMO was involved yet again and the score was ruled out for a knock-on in the build-up.

That was the incentive Benetton needed. O’Brien had a looping pass intercepted by wing Tommaso Menoncello, then the Italians pressed in the dying exchanges, only for the Scarlets to force a knock-on on their own line.

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FLASHBACK Angus O’Brien celebrates a late try to help Scarlets edge a 16-14 derby win in their ‘away’ Guinness PRO14 clash with the Ospreys at Parc y Scarlets on Boxing Day 2020.

O’Brien latched onto a brilliant off-load from Blade Thomson to race over for the match-winning score in a rain-soaked contest.

The match had been switched to Parc y Scarlets because Swansea City were replacing the Liberty Stadium surface.

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01.01.22 I united rugby championship

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HERE’S TO THE NEXT ROUND

TODAY’S OPPOSITION

SCARLETS Vs OSPREYS

scenesetter...

Former Scarlet Michael Collins starred in an opening round win in Newport and the Ospreys made it two from two when they saw off Cardiff at the Swansea.com stadium in round two.

Toby Booth’s side bounced back from the disappointment of a home loss to the Cell C Sharks to claim victory over Benetton in Treviso, before shocking previously unbeaten Munster thanks to a gritty, abrasive forward effort.

Ospreys head into the New Year’s derby aiming to bring to an end a six-year winless run in Llanelli.

CLUB FORMED

2003 stadium SWANSEA.COM STADIUM

capacity 20,827

LOCATION SWANSEA, WALES

honours Celtic League/Pro12 2004–05, 2006–07, 2009–10, 2011–12 Anglo-Welsh Cup 2007–08

MOST CAPS Alun Wyn Jones (249)

A 27-26 Boxing Day thriller in 2015 saw the Ospreys last emerge victorious in a competitive fixture at Parc y Scarlets.

It took a late Angus O’Brien score to snatch victory in what was a ‘home’ game for the Swansea-based side in 2020, then Scarlets ran out comfortable 22-6 winners in the Rainbow Cup clash in May.

Connacht put Ospreys to the sword in Galway, but Ospreys made home advantage pay once again when they saw off Ulster 19-13 in round seven.

It is the Ospreys, though, who have enjoyed the stronger start to this disrupted first United Rugby Championship season, winning five and losing just two of their opening seven matches to lead the Welsh Shield and put them firmly in the play-off picture.

The Champions Cup campaign began with a disappointing home loss to Sale Sharks and the Ospreys have been frustrated

by Covid-enforced inactivity since.

FORM

W

L

W

L

L

LAST MATCH

13

OSPREYS

VS

SALE SHARKS

21

sat 12/12/2021 POOL STAGE - SWANSEA.COM STADIUM, SWANSEA, WALES HEINEKEN CHAMPIONS CUP

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01.01.22 01.10.21 I UNITED united RUGBY rugby CHAMPIONSHIP championship

SCARLETS SCARLETS Vs EMIRATES Vs benetton LIONS

THREE TO

Jac Morgan

Morgan Morris

Michael Collins

Supporters player of the season at the Scarlets last term, Morgan has hit the ground running across the Loughor. Scarlets will be well aware of Morgan’s strength over the ball and turnover ability, he is also guaranteed to put in a big defensive shift. The former Wales U20s captain can count himself unfortunate not to have had a senior Wales call.

The dynamic Swansea-born No. 8 has been a revelation for the Ospreys over the last 12 months.

The 23-year-old’s try against Ulster helped the Ospreys to become only the second side to beat the Northern Ireland province this season. A powerful carrier who regularly gives his side front-foot ball, he Is also leading the way for turnovers for the Ospreys.

The versatile former Super Rugby three-quarter played 17 matches in Scarlet during the 2015-16 season, scoring a memorable try double in victory over Ulster. Starts at centre this evening, but just as comfortable at full-back. A clever operator who possesses slick hands and a sharp eye for the gap, as he showed in a man-of-the-match display against the Dragons in round one.

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01.01.22 I UNITED RUGBY CHAMPIOnSHIP

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SCARLETS Vs OSPREYS

On the right

Centre Macs signs for Scarlets Academy Centre Macs Page has become the latest addition to the Scarlets Academy.

The 16-year-old Pembrokeshire talent starred for Scarlets West in the recent series of under-17 age-grade fixtures and is being tipped for a bright future in the game.

Macs started his rugby journey with Fishguard RFC minis before moving to play with Crymych RFC Juniors and Youth. He is a pupil at Ysgol y Preseli and prior to playing representative rugby had three years with Swansea City football academy.

He is currently studying an Electric and Plumbing Service course at Pembrokeshire College along with playing in the WRU College and Schools National League.

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Scarlets Academy skills coach Paul Fisher said: “We were very impressed when we saw Macs playing, he has genuine pace along with the ability to beat defenders at will. His distribution off both hands is impressive and he identifies space well.

“On the other side of the ball he showed his ability to tackle along with being a contact area turnover merchant.

We look forward to seeing Macs develop with the Scarlets Academy and are excited by his potential when he moves into senior rugby.”

Macs is pictured with Scarlets head coach Dwayne Peel and Scarlets development pathway manager Kevin George at Parc y Scarlets

01.01.22 I UNITED RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP

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Media update: Fitness latest and challenge ahead of ospreys

SCARLETS Vs ospreys

FROM THE

Dwayne Peel spoke to the media this week as the Scarlets prepared for their first competitive game of rugby since the win over Benetton on October 22.

Here’s what he had to say.

Dwayne, how has everyone been this week?

DP: “The boys are in good spirits and we’ve managed to get some good work done. The boys are good to go and just want to play a game of rugby, it has been so long with close calls etc, preparing to build yourself up physically and psychologically and then games being cancelled. It has been mentally tough, but we are almost there and be able to be professional rugby players again, which is what the boys want.”

How frustrating has it been for everyone?

DP: “It has been really frustrating, especially to have the Boxing Day game against Cardiff called off so close to match-day. We prepped well and to find out on Christmas Day that the game was going to be off was tough.The boys were bitterly disappointed, as everyone would be.

We have to move on quickly because we have a big one this weekend. We planned to play on Boxing Day so came in and had a training session, we then had Monday off and then trained as a normal week.”

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What has the message been?

DP: “The boys have been very good as a group. They have moved on quickly when we have asked them to.

Scotty Williams spoke well this week in terms of how frustrating it has been and how it is tough mentally to get yourself up for a game and then have it cancelled last minute, but when the time comes we have to be ready to go.

That is something the whole group have driven. The boys have gone about their business well and are just itching for a game now.”

How difficult will it be to fit in these postponed games later in the season?

DP: “All we can do is prepare well each week. There is a lot of uncertainty around things at the minute, all we can do is control the week coming up. That is the only way we can approach it because there is so much uncertainty about what the league will look like beyond the end of this block at the end of January.”

01.01.22 I UNITED RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP

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SOUTH AFRICA TOUR DIARY

SCARLETS Vs OSPREYS

BEHIND THE SCENES

A diary of our remarkable 18-day adventure to the Rainbow Nation and isolation!

Tues, Nov 23 We’re away! Coach leaves Parc y Scarlets, stopping off at the Vale Resort for a training session before we head to Heathrow for our flight.

Destination Durban (via Dubai) Wed, Nov 24 After travelling through the night we arrive at our stunning five-star hotel on the beachfront at Umhlanga Rocks.

Grey skies and showers greet us but temperatures in the mid-twenties is a far cry from what we’ve left behind.

Thursday Nov 25 First training session on SA soil at Crawford International School in Durban. We get an unexpected intruder, a monkey! After the boys have a meal together, news starts filtering through of a new Covid variant detected in South Africa and it looks like the games against the Sharks and Bulls aren’t going to be played.

Friday, Nov 25 Individuals are sent to isolate in their rooms as management plots a route back home to avoid hotel quarantine.

With SA on the UK red travel list and borders being shut, it doesn’t look promising.

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Saturday, Nov 26 We are leaving Durban on a short flight to Cape Town to link up with the other URC sides. We board the plane to nods of acknowledgements from the Munster boys who have flown down from Pretoria.

Sunday, Nov 27 With a flight chartered for all four sides (us, Munster, Cardiff and Zebre) to Dublin, we arrive early at Cape Town Airport, there is a lengthy wait to check-in. We hear news of Cardiff and Munster returning positive Covid tests so can’t travel, an anxious wait for our results, but we’re all clear, relief all round. So it’s just us and Zebre on the flight to the Irish capital with Zebre connecting back to Milan.

Monday Nov 28 We were hoping for different options a bit closer to home, but we learn our quarantine period will be spent in Belfast, or County Antrim to be exact.

We’re off the flight, straight onto a couple of buses and heading north.

Greeted by hotel security at a Holiday Inn Express, ushered off in small groups and guided to our rooms. Our home for the next 10 days. This is Day Zero.

01.01.22 I united rugby championship

SOUTH AFRICA TOUR DIARY

SCARLETS Vs OSPREYS Saturday, Dec 4 Penblwydd Hapus Blade & Will.

Sunday, Dec 5 Poker Night!

Monday, Dec 6 S&C team are ensuring regular workout routines - for room and ‘yard’ - keep pinging into the WhatsApp groups. Everyone trying to do the best they can, but only have stretch bands, no weights allowed. Yoga sessions courtesy of former women’s player Alecs Donovan.

Tuesday, Nov 29 Our routine quickly becomes clear. We have a half-hour ‘yard-time’ slot in the car park to exercise in groups of two or three. Rest of the day is to be spent in our rooms with no physical contact with any other members of the group.

Security supervisors on every corridor ensuring no-one breaks the rules. Food brought to our doors. News breaks of news cases in the Munster and Cardiff camps, they are still in SA. We are to test every two days. Happy birthday Samson and Kieran, one they won’t forget!

Wednesday, Dec 1 It looks increasingly unlikely that we are going to be able to postpone our opening Champions Cup match against Bristol a week on Saturday. No way boys are going to be able to come out of quarantine and play a day later, only other option is to somehow cobble together a side from home. Quiz night in our camp with Tom Price taking the reins as question master.

Thursday, Dec 2 Some boys using their time to upskill and sign up for level two WRU coaching course.

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Tuesday, Dec 7 Day 8 of quarantine. After extensive discussions over the weekend, we have decided to forfeit the Bristol game, hugely disappointing, but player welfare has to come first.

Wednesday, Dec 8 Home is getting closer. Another zoom chat with a couple of inspirational speakers who have served in the military. Perspective. One more sleep!

Thursday, Dec 9 Day 10! Bags packed and flight is booked for 1am Friday morning.

Friday, Dec 10 We arrive back in Cardiff in the early hours, one bus heads to the Vale, another straight to Parc y Scarlets. Not the trip we expected!

With thanks to Capital Pearls Hotel Umhlanga Rocks, Holiday Inn Express Antrim, Emirates, URC, Hifly Airline, Clarity Travel, G4S, Ulster Rugby, Guilt Trip Coffee and Darren Cave, Belfast Hatch, The Fancy Fox, Slims Healthy Kitchen, Yellow Door Deli, Cwmfarm Salami, Oddballs, PAS, Black Box Fitness, Alecs Donovan at YBL.

01.01.22 I united rugby championship

Dyma dy le

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QUESTION 1

QUESTION 6

Which Ospreys player is the cousin of Scarlets prop Steff Thomas?

Who scored Wales’ only try in their Autumn Nations Series defeat to the All Blacks?

QUESTION 2

QUESTION 7

Which Scarlet won his first Wales cap during the recent autumn series?

What is the nickname of Llandovery RFC?

QUESTION 3

Which World Cup winner has recently signed for Leicester Tigers?

Scarlets prop Javan Sebastian made his Scotland debut off the bench against which country?

QUESTION 4

Who was named World Rugby’s Men’s Breakthrough Player of the Year for 2021?

QUESTION 8

QUESTION 9

Jonsson Kings Park is the home of which URC side?

QUESTION 10

Who is the Scarlets’ top tryscorer this season?

QUESTION 5

Former Scarlets’ Wales internationals Alisha Butchers and Jasmine Joyce play for which English women’s club team?

ANSWERS 1. Gareth Thomas 2. WillGriff John 3. Japan 4. Will Jordan (NZ) 5. Bristol Bears 6. Johnny Williams 7. The Drovers 8. Handre Pollard 9. Cell C Sharks 10. Johnny McNicholl (3)

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01.01.22 I united rugby championship

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NEWS FROM THE PARC

SCARLETS Vs OSPREYS

COMMERCIAL

New partners on board!

Scarlets are delighted to welcome South Caernarfon Creameries (SCC) and CRX Compression to our commercial family.

Producers of the award-winning Welsh Dragon cheese and butter brand, SCC is based on the beautiful Llyn Peninsula in North Wales and is a farmers co-operative made up of 145 farms, some of which have been supplying milk for generations.

Dragon Marketing Manager Kirstie Jones said: “We are really excited to be joining the Scarlets family and building our brand in the South Wales area. The Scarlets have a great affinity with the community and we can’t wait to be a part of that!”.

As well as match-day hospitality, Dragon will have a presence in the Supporters Village before and after games, while also supplying their Welsh cheese and butter into the stadium, including consumer favourites Welsh Slate Cavern Aged Cheddar, Halen Môn Mature Cheddar and their Cavern Aged Penderyn Whisky blend.

In addition, the Dragon branding will be shown at Parc y Scarlets and in the match-day programme.

For more information on Dragon go to www.dragonwales.co.uk

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The partnership with CRX will see players provided with a range of compression wear to aid their performance and recovery.

CRX Compression specialises in providing professional athletes in elite sport with high-quality compression garments.

Nigel Ashley-Jones, Scarlets Head of Physical Performance, said: “CRX uses the latest in compression technology to help maximise players’ recovery. Every detail matters at this level and we are delighted to be partnering with a company that has such experience in working with elite sportsmen and women across a wide range of sports.”

Jack Wright, Sales & Marketing Manager at CRX Compression, said: “CRX Compression are delighted to partner with the Scarlets. To be supplying our products to the squad in order to improve their recovery, prevent injury and maximise performance is extremely exciting for us.

“With the tough season schedule, recovery is more important than ever and we look forward to working alongside both the medical, strength and conditioning teams as well as the squad, to optimise player recovery in between games.”

01.01.22 I united rugby championship

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SCARLETS Vs ospreys

THOUGHTS FROM Mind the gap. Well we probably do actually.

It has been 10 long weeks since the Scarlets played their last competitive game.

While we all accept that public health concerns as a result of the continued pandemic should take priority, the disruption which entails is causing a sense of frustration for club, coaches, players and supporters alike.

After a gap of nearly six months in 2020 during the first lockdown we have just endured a second period without a competitive Scarlets game.

Not since the Second World War when fixtures were suspended for five years have there been such big gaps in the Scarlets calendar.

The nearest we came to it was nearly 60 years ago during the big freeze of 1963.

During that winter the country was gripped by sub-zero temperatures, hard frosts and blizzards.

All sports were affected. For football, it meant that a special football pools panel had to be set up live on television to predict the result of league games. This was a necessity as the Football pools was one of the few forms of mass gambling in the country. These were innocent days before the advent of online gambling and national lotteries.

For the Scarlets, it meant nearly five weeks without a game. On January 5, there was a 3-0 win at Abertillery in what was hailed as a game for the connoisseur - in other words, extremely boring.

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West Wales then became encased by the big freeze. Club rugby was at a standstill and international matches were only played because tonnes of hay were spread over pitches to stop the ground from freezing. Farmers were hired to pitchfork the hay off the pitch before the start of the game.

The Scarlets committee even made inquiries about installing underground heating so that games could be held in the future.

The freezing weather eventually relented and the next game was at home against Swansea which we lost 6-0. In fact, the lockdown gap in the season hadn’t done the Scarlets any favours at all. Before the freeze they had lost only two of their first 12 games and were on course for a successful season.

The cold weather must have frozen the players’ joints because after the return they had a run of nine defeats in 10 matches.

It brought the usual “the end is nigh” comments from the local press.”The Scarlets have been serving up some shocking football lately. Now is the time for the committee to take stock.,” thundered the Llanelli Star.

Let’s hope that there aren’t any more enforced gaps in the fixtures to come. If there are, then perhaps the professional rugby clubs should set up a panel to predict results live on television.

Now that would be a source of fierce argument.

01.01.22 I UNITED RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP

NEWS FROM THE PARC

SCARLETS Vs OSPREYS

IN

Tributes have been paid to former Scarlets physio David Jenkins, popularly known as ‘Dai Chips’ who has passed away.

Dai was an ever-present member of the back-room team at Stradey Park through the eighties and nineties.

Former Scarlets prop and team manager Anthony Buchanan wrote on the Llanelli RFC website: “It is extremely sad to hear of the passing of David Jenkins. I was with Dai right through my playing and managing career.

“Our Llanelli careers couldn’t have been more aligned! He started with the club at the same time as me and I went through my term of office with Dai. “Myself and Gareth (Jenkins) spent a lot of time in Dai’s company. We enjoyed many an occasion, too many to list, and what was clear to see was that everybody was comfortable in Dai’s company.

“He treated the club like a family environment and was always ready and available to help and support players, even opening his home for treatment on many an occasion. He was attending Llanelli games until very recently and was just as strong a character as ever, with a wicked sense of humour that always provoked a discussion!

He’ll be sadly missed by us all.”

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Scarlets greats Rupert Moon, Scott Quinnell, Jonathan Davies and Emyr Lewis were among those to pay tribute to Dai on social media.

Rupert wrote on Twitter: “He fixed me up … taped me up…many a time through my @LlanelliRFC career. Diolch Dai. #RIPDai #Grateful #RubADub #RugbyFamily” Emyr recalled: :I went to see him when I was 16 after a specialist told me I would never play rugby due to my back. Dai chips laughed and sorted me out over 3 weeks and didn’t charge a penny. Little did I know that he would be my physio @LlanelliRFC for the next 8 yrs. RIP Dai you will be missed” Condolences to the family of former Scarlet Chris Charles, who passed away in November. A highly-respected prop forward Chris played 99 matches in a Scarlets jersey between 1971 and 1975 and was part of the match-day squad that famously toppled the mighty All Blacks at Stradey Park in 1972. He went on to represent Wales at B level and in an uncapped international and played rugby league for St Helens.

The club would also like to send their condolences to the family of long-term Scarlets fan Mick Haltam, who has passed away at the age of 51.

01.01.22 I united rugby championship

scarlets COMMUNITY

SCARLETS Vs ospreys

in the

Our popular Scarlets Community Camps returned during the half-term break with youngsters from across the region enjoying two days of fun at the Parc y Scarlets training arena. Check out some of the great pics taken by our staff photographer Riley Sports Photography

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01.01.22 I united rugby championship

RUGBY NEWS

SCARLETS Vs ospreys

IFAN Last month Ospreys hooker Ifan Phillips was involved in a road traffic accident in Swansea and suffered life-changing injuries.

Since then the rugby community has come together to raise funds towards Ifan’s rehabilitation.

Ifan spent a short time on loan with the Scarlets in 2020 and for this evening’s game, in conjunction with the Ospreys and our supporters’ clubs, we had planned a collection around the stadium.

Unfortunately, with the game being played behind closed doors that collection was unable to take place, but you can still support Ifan and his family by going to his justgiving fundraising page www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/ ifan-phillips In a recent post shared on his Instagram page, the 25-year-old said: “The generosity of the public and the rugby community has been truly overwhelming and I cannot thank you guys enough for your kind donations, messages and much more.

“My heartfelt thanks go to all who assisted at the scene of the accident, to the emergency services and to all staff at Morriston Hospital. You have all been brilliant.

“I went into theatre on arrival but following ongoing surgery it was not possible to save my leg. As a result I had to have an above the knee amputation.

“Your kind donations will all be going towards my rehabilitation and hopefully getting a prosthetic leg which will enable me to experience new opportunities.

“Those who know me well will know how active I am as an individual and I WILL continue to be so.

“All your donations are greatly appreciated so thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

“On the 5th of December I was rushed into hospital because of a motorbike accident.

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01.01.22 I united rugby championship

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SCARLETS Vs OSPREYS

Gair o Blwyddyn newydd dda i bob un ohonoch, mawr gobeithiwn eich bod wedi mwynhau’r dathliadau Nadolig ac os oeddech yn un o’r rhai sydd wedi gorfod hunan ynysu gobeithiwn eich bod yn cadw’n iawn ac edrychwn ymlaen at groesawu pawb nôl i Barc y Scarlets yn fuan iawn. Yn dilyn yr egwyl hirach na’r disgwyl o’r rygbi dyma ni, wedi cyrraedd y gêm gyntaf o’r flwyddyn 2022 a diwedd i bedair mis heriol i’r clwb a’r cefnogwyr.

Siomedig oedd gorfod gohirio gêm arall yn ystod yr Wyl ond iechyd a diogelwch ein chwaraewyr, staff a chefnogwyr sy’n bwysig ac felly fydd hi’n rhyfedd iawn i ddychwelyd i stadiwm dawel a gwag unwaith eto am y flwyddyn newydd. Yn union pan oedd y byd yn disgwyl ei fod yn dechrau gwella o’r cyfnod Covid yma, mae’r straen newydd Omicron yn cyflwyno’i hun!

Yn dilyn y siom o weld y pedair gêm ddiwethaf yn cael eu gohirio a thynnu allan o’r gêm yn erbyn Bryste, mae’n bryd i’r ddraig i danio eto ac mae’r bois yn ysu i fynd yn erbyn y Gweilch heddiw. Does neb yn disgwyl i’r gystadleuaeth i fod yn un rhwydd ond bydd digon o gefnogaeth gan y tîm cartref i yrru nhw ymlaen at fuddugoliaeth yn y Parc. Mae cwrdd â’r Gweilch yn draddodiad cyffroes iawn i gefnogwyr y ddau ochr, does dim amau hynny. Edrychaf ymlaen at weld eich negeseuon a lluniau ar ein sianeli cymdeithasol.

Bydd llawer ohonoch yn falch iawn i groesawu’r flwyddyn newydd yma rwy’n siWr, gyda’r gobaith bydd pethau gwell i ddod yn 2022.

Mae’r ansicrwydd dros yr wythnosau diwethaf yn enwedig yn dangos pa mor fregus mae’r sefyllfa Covid yn parhau i fod yng Nghymru felly cadwch yn saff dros y cyfnod yma wrth i ni dreulio amser gyda’n teuluoedd a ffrindiau.

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Dros yr wythnosau diwethaf fe glywon y newyddion trist am fachwr y Gweilch Ifan Phillips a’i anafiadau o ddamwain ar heol. Yn dilyn y cyhoeddiad fe gafodd tudalen JustGiving ei greu yn enw Ifan er mwyn codi arian tuag at ei driniaeth, addasiadau tY a’r offer newydd fydd angen arno. Mae’r tudalen erbyn heddiw wedi codi swm anhygoel o bron £70,000, gyda phobl yn cyfrannu at yr achos ledled Cymru.

Teulu rygbi Cymru unwaith eto yn dangos eu caredigrwydd a gofal.

Mae pob un ohonom yn Nheulu’r Scarlets yn meddwl amdano Ifan, ei deulu, ffrindiau a chyd-chwaraewyr a dymunwn wellhad buan iddo.

Mae ei gryfder a positifrwydd yn ysbrydoledig iawn. Os hoffwch gyfrannu at yr achos, gallwch ffeindio’r tudalen ar wefan justgiving. com/crowdfunding/ifan-phillips.

Fe ddaeth y newyddion trist hefyd am farwolaeth cyn-ffisiotherapydd y clwb David Jenkins a oedd pawb yn ei adnabod fel ‘Dai Chips’ a fuodd yn weithgar iawn dros y clwb yn ystod y 80 a 90au gan ofalu am lawer o’n chwaraewyr dros y blynyddoedd hynny. Cydymdeimlwn gyda’i deulu a’i ffrindiau.

01.01.22 I united rugby championship

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2021-22 COACHING AND RUGBY STAFF

SCARLETS Vs ospreys

Owain Binding

Ben Franks Transition Strength & Conditioning Coach

Senior Physiotherapist

Transition Coach

Senior Physiotherapist

Phil John

Paul Fisher

Emyr Phillips

Development Pathway Manager

Jarrad Griffiths

Strength & Conditioning Coach

Senior Physiotherapist

Kevin George

Niall Davison Nutritionist

Head Performance Analyst

Carys Moggridge

Matthew Rees

Rhodri West

Rhys Jones Head of Strength & Conditioning

Head of Medical Services

Team Manager

Ollie Morris

Rowan O’Brien First Team Performance Analyst

Scrum Coach

Josh Rowlands

Jon Daniels

Nigel Ashley-Jones First Team Performance Analyst

Strength & Rehabilitation Coach

Forwards Coach

General Manager of Rugby

Ieuan Probert

Head of Technical Performance

Matthew Evans

Head of Physical Performance

Richard Kelly Defence Coach

Sara Davies

Backs Coach

Joe Lewis

Head Coach

Hugh Hogan

Dai Flanagan

Dwayne Peel

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01.01.22 I united rugby championship

2021-22 SQUAD LIST

SH

CT/W

Ryan Conbeer

Sam Costelow

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06/07/98

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13/10/98

DOB

06/08/00

DOB

10/01/01

DOB

05/02/99

WEIGHT

76kg

WEIGHT

95kg

WEIGHT

104kg

WEIGHT

81kg

WEIGHT

87kg

HEIGHT

172cm

HEIGHT

184cm

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178cm

SH

BR

CT

Dan Davis

Luke Davies

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Gareth Davies

James Davies

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BR

DOB

18/08/90

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25/10/90

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17/09/98

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88kg

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98kg

WEIGHT

96kg

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80kg

WEIGHT

101kg

HEIGHT

178cm

HEIGHT

183cm

HEIGHT

186cm

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172cm

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182cm

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PR

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FB

DOB

07/01/95

DOB

14/04/92

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107kg

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115kg

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01.01.22 I united rugby championship

SH

LK

Alex Jeffries

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Josh Helps

SCARLETS Vs ospreys

HK

CT

PR

DOB

30/11/95

DOB

22/12/94

DOB

08/01/96

DOB

17/02/94

DOB

27/04/95

WEIGHT

88kg

WEIGHT

114kg

WEIGHT

103kg

WEIGHT

91kg

WEIGHT

127kg

HEIGHT

184cm

HEIGHT

197cm

HEIGHT

179cm

HEIGHT

180cm

HEIGHT

192cm

PR

FH

HK

TO SPONSOR A PLAYER PLEASE CONTACT US

Wyn Jones

Morgan Jones

Marc Jones

Dan Jones

WillGriff John

ANDREA THOMAS

BR

PR

DOB

04/12/92

DOB

07/01/96

DOB

03/04/87

DOB

23/05/99

DOB

26/02/92

WEIGHT

120kg

WEIGHT

89kg

WEIGHT

108kg

WEIGHT

109kg

WEIGHT

118kg

HEIGHT

187cm

HEIGHT

183cm

HEIGHT

184cm

HEIGHT

199cm

HEIGHT

184cm

W

PR

W

Sam Lousi

Tomas Lezana

Tomi Lewis

Samson Lee

Sione Kalamafoni

TO SPONSOR A PLAYER PLEASE CONTACT US

BR

LK

DOB

18/05/88

DOB

30/11/92

DOB

17/01/99

DOB

16/02/94

DOB

20/07/91

WEIGHT

120kg

WEIGHT

115kg

WEIGHT

84kg

WEIGHT

102kg

WEIGHT

121kg

HEIGHT

190cm

HEIGHT

177cm

HEIGHT

183cm

HEIGHT

188cm

HEIGHT

199cm

TO SPONSOR A PLAYER PLEASE CONTACT US KEY / ALLWEDD PR PROP / Y RHENG FLAEN I HK HOOKER / BACHWR I LK LOCK / YR AIL RENG I FL FLANKER / BLAENASGELLWR I NO.8 NO.8 / WYTHWR I FR FRONT ROW I BR BACK ROW I SH SCRUM HALF / MEWNWR I FH FLY HALF / MASWR I WG WING / ASGELLWR I CT CENTRE / CANOLWR I FB CEFNWR / FULL BACK

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57

01.01.22 I united rugby championship

2021-22 SQUAD LIST

BR

PR

W/FB

Ioan Nicholas

Tyler Morgan

Johnny McNicholl

Josh Macleod

Kemsley Mathias

SCARLETS CT

CT/W

DOB

29/07/99

DOB

24/09/90

DOB

11/09/95

DOB

03/04/98

WEIGHT

103kg

WEIGHT

118kg

WEIGHT

95kg

WEIGHT

100kg

WEIGHT

92kg

HEIGHT

188cm

HEIGHT

185cm

HEIGHT

191cm

HEIGHT

188cm

HEIGHT

182cm

PR

HK

Tom Phillips

Ken Owens

Harri O’Connor

FH

Rhys Patchell

27/10/96

Angus O’Brien

DOB

FH

BR

DOB

17/09/94

DOB

25/10/00

DOB

03/01/87

DOB

17/05/93

DOB

13/02/96

WEIGHT

87kg

WEIGHT

118kg

WEIGHT

110kg

WEIGHT

94kg

WEIGHT

110kg

HEIGHT

182cm

HEIGHT

182cm

HEIGHT

184cm

HEIGHT

193cm

HEIGHT

192cm

BR

PR

Iestyn Rees

BR

Lewis Rawlins

TO SPONSOR A PLAYER PLEASE CONTACT US Tom Price

Jac Price

Phil Price

TO SPONSOR A PLAYER PLEASE CONTACT US

BR

LK

DOB

08/04/00

DOB

10/11/88

DOB

22/01/93

DOB

05/10/99

DOB

13/04/90

WEIGHT

107kg

WEIGHT

115kg

WEIGHT

105kg

WEIGHT

106kg

WEIGHT

116kg

HEIGHT

199cm

HEIGHT

185cm

HEIGHT

202cm

HEIGHT

191cm

HEIGHT

199cm

TO SPONSOR A PLAYER PLEASE CONTACT US

TO SPONSOR A PLAYER PLEASE CONTACT US

KEY / ALLWEDD PR PROP / Y RHENG FLAEN I HK HOOKER / BACHWR I LK LOCK / YR AIL RENG I FL FLANKER / BLAENASGELLWR I NO.8 NO.8 / WYTHWR I FR FRONT ROW I BR BACK ROW I SH SCRUM HALF / MEWNWR I FH FLY HALF / MASWR I WG WING / ASGELLWR I CT CENTRE / CANOLWR I FB CEFNWR / FULL BACK

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58

01.01.22 I united rugby championship

CT

W

PR

Steffan Thomas

Aaron Shingler

Joe Roberts

Tom Rogers

Javan Sebastian

SCARLETS Vs OSPREYS

BR

PR

DOB

10/05/00

DOB

17/12/98

DOB

27/09/94

DOB

07/08/87

DOB

22/04/97

WEIGHT

93kg

WEIGHT

86kg

WEIGHT

123kg

WEIGHT

104kg

WEIGHT

122kg

HEIGHT

183cm

HEIGHT

186cm

HEIGHT

175cm

HEIGHT

197cm

HEIGHT

183cm

N08

Liam Williams

Harri Williams

Blade Thomson BR

Johnny Williams

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Carwyn Tuipulotu

TO SPONSOR A PLAYER PLEASE CONTACT US

SH

CT

FB

DOB

04/12/90

DOB

21/08/01

DOB

05/04/03

DOB

09/04/91

DOB

18/10/96

WEIGHT

105kg

WEIGHT

118kg

WEIGHT

71kg

WEIGHT

87kg

WEIGHT

100kg

HEIGHT

198cm

HEIGHT

189cm

HEIGHT

168cm

HEIGHT

185cm

HEIGHT

191cm

Scott Williams

TO SPONSOR A PLAYER PLEASE CONTACT US

CT DOB

10/10/90

WEIGHT

97kg

HEIGHT

184cm

KEY / ALLWEDD PR PROP / Y RHENG FLAEN I HK HOOKER / BACHWR I LK LOCK / YR AIL RENG I FL FLANKER / BLAENASGELLWR I NO.8 NO.8 / WYTHWR I FR FRONT ROW I BR BACK ROW I SH SCRUM HALF / MEWNWR I FH FLY HALF / MASWR I WG WING / ASGELLWR I CT CENTRE / CANOLWR I FB CEFNWR / FULL BACK

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59

01.01.22 I united rugby championship

Date

CoM

V

OPPONENTS

HT

result

2021 SEPTEMBER / Medi SAT 25

URC

(A) EDINBURGH

URC URC URC URC

(H) (H) (A) (H)

LIONS MUNSTER LEINSTER BENETTON

T

C

P

D

T

C

P

2

1

0

4

3

0

0

T

C

P

D

T

C

P

D

20-6 l36-13 4 13-22 l13-43 1 22-8 l50-15 2 l34-28 4

2 1 1 4

4 2 1 2

0 0 0 D

1 6 7 4

1 5 6 4

2 1 1 0

0 0 0 D

T

C

P

D

T

C

P

D

2021 NOVEMBER / Tachwedd SAT 27

URC

POSTPONED

(A) SHARKS

2021 DECEMBER / Rhagfyr FRI 03 10-12 17-19 SUN 26

URC HCC HCC URC

(A) (A) (H) (A)

BULLS BRISTOL Bordeaux CARDIFF

POSTPONED N/A

l28-0

POSTPONED POSTPONED

2022 JANUARY / Ionawr SAT 01 SAT 08 14-16 21-23 SAT 29

URC URC HCC HCC URC

(H) (H) (A) (H) (A)

ospreys DRAGONS Bordeaux BRISTOL B ULSTER

2022 FEBRUARY / Chwefror SAT 19

URC

(H) connacht

D

T

C

P

D

T

C

P

D

T

C

P

D

T

C

P

D

T T T T

C C C C

P P P P

D D D D

T T T T

C C C C

P P P P

D D D D

T

C

P

D

T

C

P

D

T T T T T

C C C C C

P P P P P

D D D D D

T T T T T

C C C C C

P P P P P

D D D D D

T

C

P

D

T

C

P

D

T

C

P

D

T

C

P

D

2022 MARCH / Mawrth

T

C

P

D

T

C

P

D

SUN 10 SAT 16

T T

T C

T P

T D

T T

T C

T P

T D

T

C

P

D

T

C

P

D

T T T

C C C

P P P

D D D

T T T

C C C

P P P

D D D

T

C

P

D

T

C

P

D

T

C

P

D

T

C

P

D

URC URC

(H) GLASGOW (A) ZEBRE

2022 APRIL / Ebrill SUN 10 SAT 16 SAT 16

URC URC URC

(H) CARDIFF (A) DRAGONS (A) OSPREYS

2022 MAY / Mai SUN 10

URC

(H) STORMERS

URC UNITED RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP HCC HEINEKEN’S CHAMPIONS CUP

60

OPPOSITION

19-08 l26-22 3

2021 october / Hydref FRI 1 SUN 10 SAT 16 FRI 22

scarlets

L ASHLEY D Blacker C Baldwin D Booth S Costelow R Conbeer G Davies J Davies Jon Davies Luke Davies Dan Davis Ryan Elias Rob Evans Shaun Evans Steff Evans L Halfpenny

SCARLETS fixtures & RESULTS

T

TRY / CAIS

R R 5 5 R 9 10

1 - 15 SQUAD NO STARTING

R 2 14

13

7

2

10 16 10 8 9 10 3 11 9 14

13 13 13

7 7

2 1 R 11 10 R 1 R 11 R R R 1 7 11 5

l

LOSS

C

Conversion / trosiad

r

replacement

l

WIN

P

PENALTY KICK / cic gosb

11 5

SQUAD NO STARTING / POINTS scored

l

draw

D

DROP GOAL / gôl adlam

r3

SQUAD NO REPLACEMENT / POINTS scored

R

01.01.22 I united rugby championship

1

R 11 5

Kieran Hardy Josh Helps D Hughes Steff Hughes Alex Jeffries W Griff John Dan Jones Marc Jones M Jones Wyn Jones S Kalamafoni Samson Lee T Lewis T Lezana S Lousi J Macleod K Mathias J McNicholl Tyler Morgan I Nicholas Angus O’Brien H O’Connor K OwenS R Patchell T Phillips Jac Price PHIL Price Tom Price Tom Prydie Iestyn Rees L Rawlins Joe Roberts Tom Rogers J Sebastian A Shingler S Thomas B Thomson C Tuipulotu H Williams L Williams J Williams S Williams

2 02 1 - 2 2 S QU A D

95 R 10 5 8 3 15 5 R

9 R R 3 R R R 8 R R R R 8 3 3 R2 R 1 R 10 9 2 5 3 15 15 5 14 5 R

R 13

FB

@OFFICIALSCARLETS

TW

@SCARLETSRUGBY

61 R

P L AYER S EASO N ST A T S

WEB 75 4 4

INSTA @SCARLETS_RUGBY

TICKETS TICKETS.SCARLETS.WALES

YOUT @SCARLETSTV

EMAIL COMMENTS@SCARLET.WALES 15 15 R 5 R

2 2 R 5 4 6 12

4 R 5 R

14 10 14 4 R 6 R R 6 6 6 8 8 12 R 12 12 12

5 R R

SCARLETS.WALES

STORE SCARLETSMACRONSHOP.COM

01.01.22 I united rugby championship

today’s SCARLETS

VS

HEAD COACH DWAYNE PEEL

round 9 01.01.22 parc y scarlets kick off 19:15 united rugby championshop

OSPREYS HEAD COACH Toby Booth

starting xv

today’S FIXTURES

Liam Williams

T

C

P

D

15

T

C

P

D

Dan Evans

Johnny McNicholl

T

C

P

D

14

T

C

P

D

Keelan Giles

Steff Hughes

T

C

P

D

13

T

C

P

D

Michael Collins

Scott Williams ©

T

C

P

D

12

T

C

P

D

Owen Watkin

Steff Evans

T

C

P

D

11

T

C

P

D

Luke Morgan

DRAGONS VS CARDIFF (POSTPONED) connacht vs MUNSTER ulster VS LEINSTER

Dan Jones

T

C

P

D

10

T

C

P

D

Josh Thomas

Gareth Davies

T

C

P

D

09

T

C

P

D

Rhys Webb ©

sUNDAY’s FIXTURES

Rob Evans

T

C

P

D

01

T

C

P

D

Nicky Smith

BENETTON VS ZEBRE EDINBURGH VS GLASGOW

Ryan Elias

T

C

P

D

02

T

C

P

D

Elvis Taione

Harri O’Connor

T

C

P

D

03

T

C

P

D

Tomas Francis

Sam Lousi

T

C

P

D

04

T

C

P

D

Will Griffiths

Tom Price

T

C

P

D

05

T

C

P

D

Adam Beard

Blade Thomson

T

C

P

D

06

T

C

P

D

Ethan Roots

Josh Macleod

T

C

P

D

07

T

C

P

D

Jac Morgan

Sione Kalamafoni

T

C

P

D

08

T

C

P

D

Morgan Morris

05/02/22 FIXTURES BULLS VS LIONS stormers vs SHARKS

WELSH SHIELD

PL

BP

PT

1

7

1

21

2

5

1

14

3

5

2

11

4

7

2

9

TABLE CORRECT AS OF THE END OF ROUND 8

NEXT AT PARC Y SCARLETS

replacements Dafydd Hughes

T

C

P

D

16

T

C

P

D

Dewi Lake

Steff Thomas

T

C

P

D

17

T

C

P

D

Gareth Thomas

WillGriff John

T

C

P

D

18

T

C

P

D

Tom Botha

Aaron Shingler

T

C

P

D

19

T

C

P

D

Lloyd Ashley

Tomas Lezana

T

C

P

D

20

T

C

P

D

Sam Cross

Kieran Hardy

T

C

P

D

21

T

C

P

D

Matthew Aubrey

Rhys Patchell

T

C

P

D

22

T

C

P

D

Joe Hawkins

Tom Rogers

T

C

P

D

23

T

C

P

D

Keiran Williams

MATCH OFFICIALS

DRAGONS 08.01.22 round 10 kick off 19:35 parc y scarlets UNITED RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP

62

REFEREE Adam Jones

ASSISTANT REFEREE Ben Breakspear

ASSISTANT REFEREE Rhys Jones

TMO Sean Brickell

01.01.22 I united rugby championship

ALBERT TANNER CEFNogwr

SCARLETS Vs ospreys

y gair Blwyddyn Newydd Dda iawn i chi gyd. A gobeitho i chi gael Nadolig Llawen a dedwydd hefyd. Dim gormod o dwrci na Châteauneuf-du-Pape chwaith.

63

Un o’r manteision o fod yn sgrifennu colofn rygbi (neu ‘falle, un o’r anfanteision) yw bod Siôn Corn yn meddwl taw dim ond llyfre am rygbi ddyle fod yn hosan yr hen Albert.

Roedd digon o ddewis eleni gan fod rhai o sêr y gêm fodern fel Alun-Wyn Jones, Jamie Roberts a Mike Phillips wedi cyhoeddi hunangofiannau yn y misoedd diwetha’ heb sôn am rai o sêr tramor fel Siya Kolisi, Kieran Read a Sonny Bill Williams. Ma’ hyd yn oed rhai o gewri’r gorffennol fel Steve Fenwick a’n arwr lleol, Anthony Buchanan, wedi rhoi gair ar bapur.

“Fuest ti yn yr ysgol o gwbwl, Dad?”

Ma’ pob un yn ddigon da yn eu ffyrdd eu hunain ond yr un roiodd y mwyaf o syndod i fi oedd cyfrol gan unigolyn sy’n dal i whare. Mae e wedi ennill 96 cap i’w wlad a sgorio 34 cais yn y broses, ac ennill Camp Lawn – a 59 cais i’w ranbarth. Na nid Cymro ond Gwyddel a fagwyd yn Moyross, stad fawr o dai cyngor ar gyrion Limerick.

Os yw Moyross yn adnabyddus am unrhyw beth, tlodi, cyffurie a thrais yw hynny. Mae’n siwr ei bod hi’n anodd i grwt o’r cefndir yna i ffito mewn ‘da chynefin dosbarth canol ac uwch rygbi yn yr Iwerddon. Pan fyddwch chi’n cymysgu gyda llawer iawn o gyd-wharaewyr sydd wedi bod mewn ysgolion sy’n codi tâl am fynd iddyn nhw, dychmygwch pa mor anodd yw hi os odych chi’n cael trafferth gyda’ch sgilie darllen a sgwennu. Wrth geisio – a methu – helpu ei ferch fach 9 oed gyda’i gwaith cartre’ dyma hi’n gofyn

Nid dyma’r gyfrol gyntaf o bell ffordd i wharaewr neu athletwr i drafod ei frwydr bersonol gyda iselder a hunanbarch ond un peth sy’n amlwg yw pa mor wylaidd a didwyll yw’r awdur hwn. Enw’r gyfrol yw Fight or Flight gan Keith Earls.

Am flynyddoedd bu’n dioddef cyflwr a oedd yn achosi poen ofnadwy yn ei gefen – poen mor ddrwg fel ei fod e’n gorfod cael acupuncture yn ystod hanner amser er mwyn parhau i whare gweddill y gêm. Ond gwaeth na hynny, roedd ers ei blentyndod yn dioddef presenoldeb person arall y tu fewn ei ben yn ei lusgo i iselder tywyll. Dim ond ar ôl cael cymorth gan seiciatrydd y cafodd ddiagnosis ei fod yn dioddef o anhwylder deubegwn (neu bipolar i chi a fi).

Wrth gyhoeddi’r gyfrol cyn iddo ymddeol mae’n amlwg ei fod am ddangos fod yna, y tu cefen i’r arwr ar y cae, berson cyffredin sydd o bosib yn delio gyda phob math o broblemau personol. Dyw’r ddelwedd gyhoeddus ddim bob amser yn dweud yr holl wir.

Oni ddylen ni fel cefnogwyr gofio hynny pan fyddwn yn cael ein temtio i ddiawlio ambell wharaewr i bwy bynnag ma’ nhw’n whare? Dyna fy addewid blwyddyn newydd i.

01.01.22 I UNITED RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP

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