The Scarlets are keen to fill the vacant seats at their new home

The Scarlets have received clearance to open their new Parc y Scarlets home to full capacity for the first time for the showpiece game with the Barbarians.

The 14,681-capacity ground has passed the final safety check required by the Carmarthenshire Safety Committee.

The Barbarians bring a cosmopolitan squad led by Eddie O'Sullivan to Llanelli for the match on 31 January.

"This is great news for the Scarlets for the official opening," said the venue's operations director Mike Carr.

606: DEBATE Have your say on Parc y Scarlets

Scarlets have announced ticket deals as they bid to fill their new stadium.

Tickets will be £15 (stand) and £10 (enclosure), while season ticket holders get free entry.

Junior tickets are set at £5, while under-eights accompanied by an adult will get in for free.

"We are very mindful of the impact of the economic downturn," said Scarlets boss Stuart Gallacher, who has admitted concerns over crowd numbers.

It was originally believed that the £23m stadium would have to hit a "proving" target crowd of 11,250 before being allowed to fill to capacity.

The largest attendance so far has been the 8,436 who turned out for the Munster game in November, the region having planned for a minimum of 9,200.

The Baa-Baas clash will be the third meeting between the two sides, the first being for the opening of new accommodation at Stradey Park in 1965 and the second for the club's centenary celebrations in 1972.

"This is a very special occasion for us as we celebrate the official opening of what is beyond doubt one of the finest bespoke rugby stadia in Europe," said chief executive Gallacher.

"The new facility at Parc y Scarlets is a source of great pride to the rugby team, those who work here and all our partners and sponsors.

"This is something that the whole of Welsh rugby should celebrate in and we want as many people as possible to be part of this historic and memorable event - just as we did at the closure of Stradey Park.

"It is a huge fixture for us and one we are very excited about as we welcome some great rugby names to Llanelli to open this magnificent stadium."

The Llanelli-based region's old and much-loved Stradey Park home was closed in October, and the first game was played at the new arena the following month.

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