By Steffan Thomas   Nigel Ashley-Jones has worked with some of the best coaches in world rugby from Eddie Jones to Steve Diamond, but he believes Scarlets boss Dwayne Peel could be just as good. Ashley-Jones’ appointment as the Scarlets’ head of physical performance went under the radar somewhat when it was announced last summer. […]

The Scarlets’ capture of former All Black Vaea Fifita is yet to be confirmed by Wasps head coach Lee Blackett. The significant transfer coup for the New Zealand second row has been secured for next season by the Welsh region, who have been looking for a high quality lock since the departure of Jake Ball. But Blackett has remained tight-lipped about Fifita’s future and claimed: “There’s a lot of rumours out there.

By Paul Jones Liam Williams says he is excited by what is to come in the next chapter of his career after agreeing a switch to Cardiff for the 2022/23 United Rugby Championship season. The Wales and British & Irish Lions international full-back, who can also operate on the wing, has been signed from Welsh […]

Dwayne Peel praised his Scarlets players’ resolve after they came from behind to snatch derby day victory over the Ospreys. A late Johnny McNicholl try secured the Scarlets a bonus point 22-19 victory over their arch-rivals in an entertaining encounter in Llanelli. A brace from McNicholl along with tries from Gareth Davies, and Steff Evans got the hosts over the line at Parc y Scarlets. Dan Jones also kicked two points. 

Tom Price admits he is desperate to get on a rugby field again after being unable to cross the whitewash for an agonising 12 weeks. The Scarlets second row is hoping to take out 83 days of frustration when he hits his first ruck in the derby against the Ospreys on New Year’s Day – a clash that is live on S4C. Price admits he is praying for the turn of the year to bring about a change in his fortunes after his region suffered five successive postponements because of Covid outbreaks, including their ill-fated trip to South Africa.

Cardiff and Scarlets have both welcomed back a host of international players for their United Rugby Championship derby clash at the Arms Park on Boxing Day. Both sides have endured a rough time over the past month having to isolate both in South Africa, and back in the United Kingdom. Cardiff won the hearts and minds of supporters across the globe with their heroic performances against Toulouse, and Harlequins, respectively in Europe over the past few weeks with a team made up of academy and semi-professional players. But the Scarlets have not played a game since beating Benetton in October, and are raring to go. Lloyd Williams and Rhys Priestland will start at half-back for Cardiff, with Ben Thomas partnering Rey Lee-Lo in midfield.

By David Williams Wales’ four rugby regions have been left counting the cost after new restrictions imposed by the Welsh Government to combat the spread of the Omicron variant of Covid-19 saw professional sport effectively forced behind closed doors. A strict limit of 50 spectators was placed on sport at all levels in the country […]

By Rob Carbon The United Rugby Championship could be thrown into disarray if the tournament organisers can’t provide guarantees on a safe, secure and speedy passage home for the four teams they now expect to relive their recent traumatic travel experiences to and from South Africa. The four teams who found themselves stranded in Cape […]

The Welsh rugby regions are weighing up whether or not to seek postponements of their festive fixture list after they were ordered to play their matches behind closed doors. The Scarlets, Ospreys, Cardiff and Dragons are all facing the prospect of having to play their Christmas and New Year matches in empty stadia after the Welsh Government’s decision to ban crowds. The decision – announced by Welsh economy minister Vaughan Gething late on Monday night – will have a devastating effect on the regions’ finances.

Wales star Josh Adams wants Cardiff to show “no fear” in an odds-defying mission against European champions Toulouse on Saturday. The Heineken Champions Cup clash will take place amid a back-drop of 42 Cardiff players and staff being in isolation at a hotel just outside London until next week. The likes of Adams and his Cardiff and Wales team-mates Tomos Williams, Dillon Lewis, Seb Davies and Ellis Jenkins did not travel to South Africa, which became a UK Government red-listed country last month as fresh travel restrictions were imposed following the discovery of a new coronavirus variant.

The Scarlets have had the door slammed in their faces by European rugby bosses who will not permit any escape route from this weekend’s opening Heineken Champions Cup fixture. The Llanelli region had pleaded for a postponement of their Pool B clash at Bristol on Saturday because of the chaotic fall-out from their South Africa trip. Their coaches and players are still locked down in a Belfast hotel serving out their quarantine, which will not finish until Friday – just 24 hours before the match.

By Rob Carbon The Ospreys have asked European rugby bosses to confirm their players will not be Cup-tied before they lend some of them to the Scarlets. The Swansea-based region are willing to help out their rivals following the Scarlets’ enforced quarantine which has wrecked planning for their opening match of their Heineken Champions Cup […]