The Scarlets again find themselves at the heart of controversy over the direction of Welsh regional rugby as they prepare for the new season.
 | SCARLETS PREDICTIONS Celtic League: Champions Powergen Cup: Group stage Heineken Cup: Group stage |
Having fought hard to win stand-alone regional status, their stretched resources led to a 2004/5 season that proved disastrous by the demanding standards at Stradey Park.
Exit at the pool stages of the Heineken Cup and a slog to fifth place in the Celtic League added up to a troubled season that led to questions being raised over the future of long-serving director of rugby Gareth Jenkins.
But Jenkins predictably picked up the baton and set about the challenge of ruthlessly rebuilding an ageing Scarlets squad that lacked quality in key positions.
His methods have been controversial.
 Key player: Mike Hercus |
Llanelli have traditionally been the most-Welsh of clubs, but the Scarlets have adopted an aggressive overseas recruitment policy, stretching the regions' gentleman's agreement with the Union on overseas player quotas to the limit.
Jenkins has argued that the right quality Welsh players were simply not on the market for the positions he needed, and that to throw young Welsh players in above their level would be detrimental to everyone.
Even more contentious has been the brief given to new development manager Robert Jones, to target young talent across the globe that can be brought to the Scarlets' academy, enabling them to qualify for Wales by residency after three years.
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Summer recruits like Regan King, Hottie Louw and Mike Hercus will undoubtedly give a streetwise edge to the Scarlets' squad, and returning Welshman Dafydd James could supply the cutting edge if he can recapture his Stradey form of 1999-2001.
But strength-in-depth at prop is still desperately needed, particularly at the tight-head cornerstone where 36-year-old veteran John Davies is the only trusted option.
Injuries to Robin McBryde and Matthew Rees have also opened an unexpected weakness at hooker, the former being unfortunately forced to retire.
The Scarlets can hold little hope of a return to European glory, having been drawn in a swine of a group featuring Toulouse, Wasps, and the unfortunate Edinburgh.
 One to watch: Aled Gravelle |
Hopes of a semi-final spot in the new Anglo-Welsh Powergen Cup are realistic in a group containing Sale, Newcastle and Leeds, but the Sharks should be considered favourites to advance.
In the Celtic League, though, the Scarlets' overseas recruitment could truly pay dividends.
With their main rivals from Wales and Ireland badly hit by the absence of their Lions stars and the continuing demands of a punishing international fixture list, the Scarlets could be well set to reclaim the title they held in 2003/4.
In: Clive Stuart-Smith (Worcester), Regan King (Stade Francais), Inoke Afeaki (Secom, Japan), Hottie Louw (Clermont-Auvergne), Alix Popham (Leeds), Gavin Evans (Scarlets Academy), Darren Daniel (Scarlets Academy), Mike Hercus (Sale), Ricky Davies (Carmarthen Quins), Dafydd James (Harlequins), Ceiron Thomas (Llanelli RFC, development contract), Robert Jones (recruitment and development manager), Jonathan Edwards (Cardiff RFC)
Out: Mike Phillips (Blues), Arwel Thomas (Neath RFC), Dave Hewett (Edinburgh), Mark Taylor (Sale), Scott Quinnell (retiring), Jon Thiel (released), Dave Hodges (retired), Dale Burn (released), Bryn Griffiths (Dragons), David Maddocks (Dragons), Steve Thomas (Neath RFC), Ian Boobyer (Maesteg RFC), Dan Godfrey (Pontypridd RFC), Andy Powell (Blues), Robin McBryde (retired)
Captain: Simon Easterby
Director of rugby: Gareth Jenkins
Assistant coaches: Nigel Davies, Paul Moriarty
Team colours: Scarlet and white
Chief executive: Stuart Gallacher
Grounds: Stradey Park (Llanelli), Racecourse (Wrexham)
MMIX
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