Lewis was not offered a regional deal at Cardiff

The 34-year-old, nick-named Tarw ('bull'), left Llanelli in 1994 to join Cardiff, but he was not offered a regional contract by the Blues for the coming season.

"Travelling down here today was like coming home," Lewis told the Scarlets website, "It's a very special place with amazing fans and I can't wait to run out in a Scarlet shirt again and hopefully be a hero instead of a villain!

"The new regional set-up means it will be an exciting season and the Llanelli Scarlets are very ambitious, I want to be part of it and who knows, I may get to lift the Heineken Cup at last."

It is no secret that we anticipate being without many of our senior players during the World Cup Scarlets chief executive Stuart Gallacher

Scarlets chief executive Stuart Gallacher was delighted to welcome Lewis back to Stradey.

"It is no secret that we anticipate being without many of our senior players during the World Cup and we are looking particularly vulnerable up front," he said.

"Having someone with Emyr's experience on board is highly valuable to us."

Lewis could make his return to Llanelli colours in Sunday's friendly, away in his home town of Carmarthen against the Quins.