Head coach Glenn Delaney believes his emerging young Scarlets are learning a huge amount from training alongside the squad’s senior internationals post-lockdown.
With no summer Tests taking place in 2020 because of Covid-19, the Scarlets have been able to welcome a full squad back to Parc y Scarlets over the last couple of months.
A squad of more than 60 have been out training under the guidance of Glenn and his coaching team, including all of the Scarlets’ international contingent as well as a number of players who have recently graduated from the academy.
Glenn said: “The club has built a fabulous squad and it is a real joy to have all the Welsh internationals with us which is not normal for a pre-season period because they are usually either coming off a summer tour or the Lions.
“Their impact has been phenomenal and we are just enjoying having them around because it means we are all starting the journey together.
“It does bring with it some tough selection calls but it is a wonderful problem to have.
“It is also a great opportunity for our younger players to get alongside those guys. We have Carwyn Tuipulotu learning off Uzair Cassierm and Sione Kalamafoni, two experienced No.8s who have taken him under their wing and are showing him the way forward. That is what we want, we want Joe Roberts learning off Jon Fox, Jac Price from Jake Ball. That is the sort of environment we want those young guys to experience.
“We have got those combinations growing and we are blessed that those senior Test players are here.”
Scarlets will name their side to face Dragons on Friday lunchtime as they look to qualify for the Guinness PRO14 play-offs for a third time in four seasons.