Ospreys and Scarlets face festive date in Llanelli

There is a question swirling around the rugby public in west Wales during this Christmas period.

Will the December 2025 Welsh derby between Scarlets and Ospreys be the final one to be staged in Llanelli during the festive period?

There have not been many regular standout fixtures in the domestic Welsh calendar since the inception of regional rugby in 2003.

The double-header of Welsh derbies, normally staged the day after Christmas, has been one of those occasions.

Whether there will be another December derby between these two sides at Parc y Scarlets in two years remains to be seen.

This is because the future of Ospreys and Scarlets in their current guise is up in the air, leaving players, coaches and supporters heading into another uncertain Christmas for Welsh rugby.

The 26 December edition of this fixture might be the final one in Llanelli because of the Welsh Rugby Union's plans to cut a professional side.

Welsh rugby's governing body announced in October they want to reduce the amount of teams to three with licences to be granted in Cardiff, the west and east.

Negotiations have continued but WRU has announced that a decision on how a team will be cut will now not happen before the end of the year.

It seemed there would be a straight shootout between Scarlets and Ospreys for the west licence before another proposal has emerged.

That is Ospreys owners, Y11 Sports and Media, buying WRU-owned Cardiff and enabling Welsh rugby bosses to get to their magic number of three.

The WRU and Y11 have both declined to comment on this possibility, fuelling fears of Ospreys supporters about their sides' future, while Cardiff fans have been vocal on social media against any such proposed takeover deal.

Both coaches have reminded people of the significance of this fixture.

"It's an important game in the calendar for our fans," said Scarlets head coach Dwayne Peel.

"There is a lot of tradition behind it. Before Ospreys v Scarlets it was Llanelli v Swansea and Llanelli v Neath.

"With two teams being so close, it's great for rivalry and communities. From a rugby spectacle, it has provided some good games.

"It's always been a great time of the year and I have fond memories as a player and fan."

Peel's opposite number and former Scarlets team-mate Mark Jones agreed.

"It's the opportunity to go up against your closest rivals, both from a community perspective but also positional rivalry within Welsh rugby," said Jones.

"It brings that tribalism Welsh rugby is built on. That's the passion around the border rivalries.

"They [Scarlets] are our biggest rival, geographically and historically."

Jones is predicting Welsh rugby's latest perilous situation could provide some extra emotion.

"Looking at the landscape, I have no doubt that will be some sort of driver in sections of the media and supporters," said Jones.

"You need the emotion and desire but it's often around who controls that and who is the most accurate and disciplined. We are trying to get the balance right.

"If you are not up for this game, you have the wrong people in the room. I don't think that will be an issue."

It will be a basement battle as Ospreys and Scarlets currently occupy the bottom two spots in the United Rugby Championships (URC).

Ospreys, who have only managed one league win in seven games, prop up the table with Scarlets one place above.

"It's never nice when you are down the bottom end, nobody wants to be there," said Jones.

"But when you look at how competitive the league is and what the difference is from ninth to 16th, it's a couple of wins and the whole world is different.

"It's early in the season and teams have had different runs of fixtures.

"I am not focused on where we are, I'm more interested in how we are playing and the accuracy of our game."

His sentiments were echoed by Peel, whose Scarlets' side have two league wins after losing the first four.

"I'm not overly concerned with league positions because I appreciate the start we had," said Peel.

"We will keep building and there's a lot of rugby to be played. If the performances are good enough, results look after themselves."

Scarlets are without injured Wales quartet Blair Murray, Sam Costelow, Josh Macleod and Kemsley Mathias.

Hooker Ryan Elias takes over the captaincy from Macleod who is replaced by the returning Taine Plumtree in one of four changes from the side that beat Cardiff.

Ellis Mee switches to full-back with Joe Roberts named on the wing, while props Alec Hepburn and Archer Holz start.

Ospreys are missing Wales prop Gareth Thomas but number eight Ross Moriarty starts after sitting out the 26-10 home defeat against Munster. Prop Rhys Henry is set to make his 50th Ospreys appearance.

Wales squad places are also up for grabs with head coach Steve Tandy set to name his Six Nations squad for the tournament which starts with a trip to face England on 7 February.

"For internationals or young players coming through and trying to establish themselves, there is an opportunity to go up against a peer that is competing for the same position," said Jones.

Scarlets: Mee; Rogers, James, J Williams, Roberts; Hawkins; G Davies; Hepburn, Elias (capt), Holz, Lousi, Ball, Douglas, Plumtree, Anderson.

Replacements: van der Merwe, Morse, H Thomas, T Davies, Taylor, Hughes, E Price, Page.

Ospreys: Walsh; Conbeer, Watkin, K Williams, Giles; Edwards, Hardy; S Thomas, Lake (capt), Henry, Sutton, R Smith, Ratti, Deaves, Moriarty.

Replacements: Parry, G Phillips, Botha, R Davies, Morris, L Davies, Cokanasiga, Hopkins.

Referee: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)

Assistant referees: Craig Evans (WRU), Carwyn Sion (WRU)

TMO: Keith David (WRU).