As Scarlets host the final home game of the season at Parc y Scarlets this Saturday in the BKT United Rugby Championship, Scarlets Managing Director Jon Daniels highlights a season of growth and progression at Parc y Scarlets and looks forward to the final three games of the season with URC top eight hopes still alive.
Scarlets are ninth in the table on 38 points and with three games to go are still in the hunt for the URC play-offs. What are your reflections on the progress made by the team this season?
JD: “It’s positive to see we’ve progressed with more league points, more games won and more points scored in games already this season on last.
“There’s certainly been growth in this squad over the past eight months, we’re still chasing the top eight going into this final stretch in the URC but we recognise if we don’t get to play-offs there will be a level of disappointment, given how narrowly we’ve lost many of our games this season.
“The key strength for next season is that we will be retaining the spine of this team, there are leaders that have come forward this season, consistency in the squad is a positive for us and builds a stronger team ethic from shared experiences. The group are older and wiser and more experienced and we are seeing new leaders and heroes emerge to take us forward. This time last year not everyone knew who Blair Murray and Ellis Mee were. Importantly, we’ve retained key players who have come through our pathway – like Joe Roberts. The squad is building and we can be hopeful and positive for next year.”
How are Season Ticket sales going?
JD: “It’s been really positive. Our season ticket members are the backbone of our club and we wanted to ensure we could offer our supporters the very best value season ticket in Welsh rugby – and we’re pleased that the prices and benefits of membership have gone down really well.
“It was this time last year we launched our season ticket campaign – so we’re ahead of the game this year and closing in on 1500 sales 44 days in.
“The early bird offer is open until May 31, so there’s still time for many of our current season ticket members to renew as well as new season ticket holders buying into the Scarlets match day experience.
“Thank you to all those who have committed to support our club in 2025-26 already and for those also looking to be part of the Scarlets community and in the thick of the rugby action next season, there’s the chance to secure your seat at the game on Saturday – just visit the ticket office or online www.scarlets.wales “
What are the plans for the last home game of the season?
JD: “To host the former champions and leaders of the URC Leinster at our last home game of the season raises the bar in every sense – both on the field and off the field. We will honour and thank our departing Scarlets players post-match which is always a poignant occasion. Plus, we’re delighted to announce that we will be opening up the pitch to supporters after the final whistle – as it was such a popular event last season.
“Our Chairman Simon Muderack and President Derek Quinnell will be pitchside to thank and present players that are leaving us with gifts to mark their time in the famous jersey, plus there will be the chance for supporters to offer their own thanks on the pitch and hopefully celebrate a famous victory against Leinster here at the same time!
“To all the players who have been part of the Scarlets journey and are now moving onto new opportunities, we thank you sincerely for all you have done for this great club, your commitment to our community here in West Wales and pride in wearing the Scarlets badge.
“To add some extra fun to the proceedings, our match day has a ‘Superheroes’ theme so alongside all the usual high energy activities in the FSG Supporters Arena run by our excellent community team, there will be lots of young fans dressing up as their favourite Superheroes … and who knows, Batman and friends may be dropping in as well, so watch out!
Will you be announcing any more contract signings or retention of players in coming weeks?
JD: “Yes, There are still active conversations on both recruitment and retention for our squad for next season. While we say goodbye to a number of loyal servants on Saturday, we are retaining key talent in this squad as well as adding players who will bring new energy, leadership and experience. We can be excited about the prospects for next season and a lot of hard work continues in the background to finalise the squad make-up for 2025-26. There is more good news to come.”
What have been highlights in this second part of the Scarlets season?
JD: “Seeing a packed crowd of 11,384 enjoying themselves at the Ospreys game here at Parc y Scarlets in March will go down as a highlight this season. It was the biggest derby crowd since 2019 and shows rugby in West Wales is alive and kicking.
“For our team on and off the field to see and feel the whole stadium buzzing, packed with supporters, legends of our club and our whole community behind us including a record 55 community clubs attending – was an inspiring sight. And with a victory on the field over our closest rivals – there’s no doubt this will live long in the memory as a time we celebrated our Scarlets spirit at its best. With Dafydd Iwan singing pre and post-match everyone knew what it meant to be a Scarlet that day.”
What’s the latest from the Community Team on work to engage throughout our region?
JD: “The community team has done an outstanding job this season and I would like to thank them for all their continued hard work with groups, community teams, schools and charities right across our region. We are looking forward to our Finals weekend celebration here at Parc y Scarlets on May 16-18 when we will host nine finals from U12s through to second team senior rugby all in one mega weekend.
I’d also like to take this opportunity to congratulate the following teams from across our region on achieving great things this season.
- Llandovery winning the Super Rygbi Cymru Cup
- Burry Port Women winning WRU Women’s Cup
- WRU Welsh Youth Cup – Llandeilo Youth
- WRU Championship Cup – Llanelli Wanderers
- Welsh Schools College U18 Final – Llandovery College
- Girls U12 – Haverfordwest High VC School
- Girls U14 – Ysgol Bro Pedr
- U18 Boys Welsh Schools Plate – Ysgol Bro Pedr
- U18 Boys Welsh School Cup – Haverfordwest High VC School v Ysgol Dyffryn Taf
- U18 Schools Champion of Champions – Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Bro Myrddin
- U18 Boys West Wales Championship Final – Ysgol Preseli
- U18 Girls West Wales Championship Finalist – Haverfordwest High VC School
- Dewar Shield U16 Plate – Mynydd Mawr & Dinefwr Schools
- Dewar Shield U16 Bowl – Llanelli Schools
Scarlets historian Les Williams will retire this season after 60 years of service. How big an impact has Les made to the club over the past six decades?
JD: “Les Williams has been the guardian of our history and heritage for 60 years. His commitment and service to our club as a volunteer over such a huge period of our history has been both remarkable and unprecedented.
“Since 1965, Les has covered more than 2,500 of our games which is staggering. He has recorded every game, every player and every result from our 152 year history – creating a seamless and accurate chartered history that we all rely on as staff, stakeholders, players and media.
“His Scarlets commitment has spanned six decades from taking notes for Carwyn James on scrums, penalties handwritten and handed to the great coach at the end of the game, to being editor of match day programmes, organising centenary and 150 year celebrations and the last game at Stradey Park in 2008.
“In a pretty crazy rugby world, having Les knock on your door to bring you another gem he has unearthed from our history that has relevance today, reminds you that we are a rugby business rooted in our community and our heritage – our past is as important and incremental to us as our future.
“As a mark of respect and to ensure his contribution has a permanent place at our home, we will now re-name our media centre as the Les Williams Press Room. We honoured Les this week at a special event at Parc y Scarlets which included tributes and thanks from the current team as well as legends of the club.
“A huge thank you from us all at Scarlets to Les Williams.”
What is the latest on discussions with the WRU on a new PRA?
JD: “The news from Cardiff was a sad day across Welsh rugby, with the stress and uncertainty it brought as well as the stark reminder to those across the professional game of the challenges we all face.
“Our responsibility is to ensure we remain a sustainable club and as our loyal supporters know we have been making tough decisions, driving efficiencies and making incremental improvements for some time now, balancing the need for greater investment in rugby with the basic requirement to keep the doors open.
“The Cardiff situation is a harsh reminder of our reliance on a small group of funding directors who still commit their own money to support us – some of whom have done so for two decades. We are very fortunate to have their continued backing as well as their unrivalled knowledge and experience of the game in Wales.
“We are genuinely committed to working together for a better future for Welsh rugby. We all still want to get there. I think we are much more collaborative than we have been in past. Yes we don’t agree on everything – but there again if we did agree all the time, we are probably not driving hard enough.
“Meaningful conversations are still ongoing and we are positive we’ll come to a final agreement in the near future, but we have to get to a place that we are all happy to sign and commit to – including those who are providing associated funding along with the WRU.
Any future dates for the diary?
JD “Aside from the next three games in the URC, we’ll be hosting a rip roaring event here with some famous faces at Parc y Scarlets for our supporters on Saturday, June 7 at 7pm – so watch this space over the next few days to find out more.”