The team is to represent west, mid and north Wales and has set out an ambitious plan to achieve long-term success on and off the field.
The Llanelli Scarlets have announced they will play two Celtic League matches at the Racecourse Ground, Wrexham, against The Borders on November 1 and Glasgow on April 30, each time spending a week in the north Wales area carrying out coaching sessions and school visits.
The region is currently receiving WRU help to apply for European funding for its development work which will include an impressive academy structure to develop schoolboys and regional players.
Llanelli Scarlets’ director of rugby Gareth Jenkins unveiled a project for a pyramid structure for the region that would eventually feed the Welsh national team. He said, ‘This is a challenging time but ultimately a rewarding one. It is a moment that won’t come again so we have to get it right. It means all of us leaving our baggage behind and being prepared to work together for the good of the region and ultimately a rejuvenated and successful national team.’
Chief executive Stuart Gallacher spelled out the goal to be one of the four top-ranked teams in Europe and said, ‘We have always been a side rooted in our community and that isn’t going to change. It’s just that our community has got bigger.’
Llanelli Scarlets Squad Season 2003/04
Backs:
Full backs – Barry Davies, Garan Evans, Lee Byrne
Wings – Mark Jones, Salesi Finau
Centres – Tal Selley, Leigh Davies (captain), Matthew Watkins, Mark Taylor
Outside halves – Stephen Jones, Gareth Bowen
Scrum halves – Dwayne Peel, Mike Philipps
Forwards:
Props – Iestyn Thomas, Martyn Madden, Phil John, John Davies
Hooker – Robin McBryde, Aled Gravelle
Locks – Vernon Cooper, Chris Wyatt, James Griffiths, Adam Jones, Bryn Griffiths
Back row – Scott Quinnell, David Hodges, Simon Easterby, Dafydd Jones, Gareth Williams
Supplementary list to provide cover during World Cup includes:
Rhys Williams, Ceirion Thomas, Gareth Wright, David Maddox, Ian Boobyer, Gavin Evans, Adam Yelland
Director of rugby: Gareth Jenkins
Coaches: Nigel Davies, Paul Moriarty
