Those matches are a combination of Llanelli (48) in the early years and then the Scarlets (101) from 2003 and are the most played by any Welsh team in the tournament.
It ranks them fifth on the all-time list for the competition behind Munster (180), Leinster (175), Toulouse (173) and Ulster (155).
Having missed out on playing in the top tier for the first time last season, they are back where they feel they rightfully belong and head coach Glenn Delaney knows they face a tough task to qualify for the new concept of home and away quarter-finals with two games each against Bath and Toulon.
They are both long standing opponents and all three clubs were in the same pool in the 2017-18 season when the Scarlets went all the way to the semi-finals for the fourth time in their history.
The first game played by Llanelli in the competition was in the second season when Leinster were the visitors to Stradey Park. Frano Botica was the saviour for the home side as he kicked 19 points in a 34-17 victory.
LLANELLI 34 – 17 LEINSTER – Stradey Park, 12 October, 1996
Llanelli: Garan Evans; Andrew Richards, Matthew Wintle, Neil Boobyer, Deiniol Evans; Frano Botica, Rupert Moon; Rhys Jones, Robin McBryde, Spencer John, Vernon Cooper, Steve Ford, Hywel Jenkins (Paul Morris 71), Iwan Jones, Chris Wyatt
Scorers: Tries: R McBryde, R Moon, N Boobyer; Cons: F Botica 2; Pens: F Botica 5
Leinster: Pete McKenna; Pat Gavin, R McIlreavy, Kurt McQuilken, Darragh O’Mahony; Richard Governey, Alain Rolland; Henry Hurley, Mark McDermott, Paul Wallace, Neil Francis, Malcolm O’Kelly, Steve Rooney, Chris Pim, Victor Costello
Scorers: Tries: P Gavin, P McKenna, D O’Mahony; Con: R Governey
Referee: John Bacigalupo (Scotland)
Botica’s contribution was critical in the final equation in the pool rankings as it meant Llanelli, despite losing both away games, pipped Leinster on points difference to the second qualifying place behind Leicester for the quarter-finals.
That home win was followed by an away defeat against Scottish Borders. Then came a home win over Pau before a trip to Welford Road to complete the pool round saw the Tigers triumph 25-16.
The quarter-final draw saw Llanelli head to Brive to face the team that went on to win the title. That game ended in a 35-14 defeat against one of the outstanding sides of the tournament’s 25 year history.
Llanelli first played in Bath on October 19, 1896, when fixtures between the two clubs began. Llanelli won 8-0 on that occasion and the bond between the two clubs was further cemented when they began playing for the ‘Rag Doll’.
This all began on March 12, 1921, when Llanelli won 16-0 at Stradey Park. The doll was presented to the secretary of the Bath club, Eddie Simpkins, at a function held in the Salutation Hotel by the former Llanelli chairman, Thomas Mills, who was the proprietor. The original doll was dressed in Llanelli colours and it was hung from the cross bar during matches between the two teams for many years, wearing the colours of the last team to win.
It will be there again this weekend, in Bath colours following their win in the most recent friendly fixture. But Delaney’s side should travel with confidence having won on their two previous visits to The Rec in Europe.
The first time was for the quarter-finals in January, 2002. The weather was terrible and the game was postponed from the Saturday and pushed to the next day.
It was a game in which the star-studded home side started as favourites, yet found themselves trailing 21-3 at one stage. The trusty boot of Stephen Jones worked the oracle for the Welsh club as he kicked all 27 points with eight penalties and added a drop goal for good measure.
BATH 10 – 27 LLANELLI – The Recreation Ground, 27 January, 2002
Bath: Matt Perry; Iain Balshaw, Olly Barkley, Mike Tindall, Kevin Maggs; Mike Catt (captain),
Andy Williams; David Barnes, Andy Long, Simon Emms, Steve Borthwick, Danny Grewcock,
Gavin Thomas, Mark Gabey, Nathan Thomas
Reps: Gareth Cooper, Mark Regan, Adam Hopcroft, Rob Thirlby, Tom Voyce, Dan Dorsey, Dan Lyle
Scorers; Try: G Thomas; Con: O Barkley; Pen: O Barkley
Llanelli: Garan Evans; Wayne Proctor, Neil Boobyer, Leigh Davies, Salesi Finau; Stephen Jones,
Guy Easterby; Martyn Madden, Robin McBryde, John Davies, Vernon Cooper, Chris Wyatt, Dave Hodges, Simon Easterby, Scott Quinnell (captain)
Reps: Phil Booth, Mark Thomas, Luke Gross, Dafydd Jones, Dwayne Peel, Gareth Bowen, Barrie Davies
Scorer: Pens: S Jones 8; DG: S Jones
Referee: Allan Lewis (Ireland)
That win set-up a semi-final shoot-out with Leicester Tigers, which was lost agonisingly 13-13 in an epic encounter at the City Ground, Nottingham. No Scarlets fan will ever forget, or forgive, Tim Stimpson for his monster penalty that won the game after hitting both uprights and bouncing on the bar before going over.
The other games against Bath came in the 2017-18 campaign, when the English side triumphed 18-13 at Parc Y Scarlets before the Scarlets gained ample revenge with a 37-14 victory at The Rec.
That enabled them to get out of their pool and move towards a fourth semi-final, where once again they were deprived of a trip to the final, this time by Leinster.
So, with two wins in their two visits to The Rec in Europe there should be every hope of clinching a hat-trick to kick-start the latest Champions Cup campaign.
