Scarlets managing director Jon Daniels has set a bold target for the upcoming season, insisting that anything less than a United Rugby Championship play-off place would be an underachievement. He is backing the club's emerging academy talent to make a significant impact.
Significant changes at Parc y Scarlets
There has been considerable change at the region in recent months. Nigel Davies has been appointed permanent director of rugby, Aaron Dundon has arrived from Leinster as lead forwards coach, and Eamon O'Carroll has joined from St Helens as defence coach. Steff Hughes will oversee the role on an interim basis until O'Carroll arrives.
The Scarlets have also strengthened their squad with notable additions, including All Blacks back-rower Cullen Grace, Wales playmaker Gareth Anscombe, and Cardiff loosehead Corey Domachowski.
Play-offs the minimum expectation
With that recruitment, Daniels believes a play-off spot should be the minimum requirement. "We have to be bold and make it clear that anything less than the play-offs this year is an underachievement and we won't be happy with that," Daniels told WalesOnline. "That's in both competitions. That's what we are working towards. The rugby are into their third block of pre-season already and I can assure you none of them work their socks off for anything less than the play-offs. That's got to be where we are."
Academy talent excites
Times are challenging in west Wales after the Welsh Rugby Union placed the Scarlets and Ospreys in direct competition for the region's licence as it pushes ahead with plans to reduce Wales' four professional teams to three. But Daniels remains confident in the club's prospects, particularly regarding the academy.
"We've got a group of young players who came in for their first pre-season last year and looked young," said Daniels. "You could tell they were young. All our senior players are talking about them and you can see they are a year older and a year more mature. I think we've got some quality coming through up-front which is not the norm for us. We had two tighthead props in the Wales U20s squad (Jac Pritchard and Yestyn Cook) this year which is unheard of. They are both different types of players as well so that's a positive."
Daniels also highlighted other prospects: "Will Evans is another one. We've known Will since he was 14 so he hasn't come from nowhere. But we are very excited about him. If it wasn't for niggly injuries coming at the wrong time Will Evans would have been in a Scarlets shirt last year. There's also Dom Kossuth and Osian Williams in the backrow. There's also Keanu Evans who was a star U18s performer transitioning into hooker. That is going well."
Confidence in the pathway
While some question whether Welsh rugby has the talent base to support four professional teams, Daniels has no doubts about the Scarlets' ability to produce players. "We are very happy with the talent we've got coming through," he said. "The senior players who are commenting on those boys now in their second year in pre-season and they say they don't look out of place. They are ready both physically and in their rugby development. They've come a long way in that year. Our current crop of U17s and U18s we are pleased with as well. Just bear in mind every year there's 35 players in those groups in each region that come through. We need five or six a year of real quality coming out of that group. That's where we feel strong. If we've got five or six quality potential internationals coming through over a five or six year period you are talking 20-30 potential international players. That is exciting."
Retention challenges
One of the biggest challenges facing Welsh rugby is retaining its most promising young players, with many attracted to clubs and private schools across the border in England. Daniels accepts there is work to be done but remains confident in the depth of talent coming through the Scarlets pathway.
"We do have to do a better job collectively of putting a better offer in front of them," he told WalesOnline. "Part of that is collaboration as well. We need to be presenting a joint regional and national plan to their parents for why they should stay and the additional support they are going to get. We've got long standing partnerships in that space as well with Coleg Sir Gar and Llandovery College. Llandovery has played a big part in our pathway and system over the years. We have worked more closely with Gareth Davies and the exiles to take advantage of those opportunities."
The Scarlets have seen some promising young players move across the border, with Wales Under-20s captain Deian Gwynne joining Gloucester alongside back-row colleagues Caio James, who also moved to Gloucester, and Alex Ridgway, who joined Bath. But the club has also retained a significant amount of emerging talent, and Daniels believes the challenge is not only keeping players in Wales but also creating a pathway that can bring others back home.
"There's always a chance that somebody will believe they want to get away and have a better experience elsewhere but that doesn't mean you can't bring them back," he said. "Also, there's huge opportunity to bring players into the system connected with the region who just understand what the club is about. I had a conversation with Isaac Murray-Macgregor (new signing) who is Joe Roberts' cousin. What an impressive individual. His sister lives in Llanelli and he lives with her. He moved away from the area at a young age but he's never had to be taught what the Scarlets is and what they are about. When the opportunity came to come back he jumped at it."
"I think sometimes we forget what we do have. We also forget there's still more people who choose to stay and be a part of it than leave. We are very proud of that."
