The Scarlets have appointed former First Minister of Wales Carwyn Jones to their board of directors. The move comes at a moment of profound uncertainty, with the Welsh Rugby Union pressing ahead with plans to reduce the number of professional teams in Wales from four to three.
The Scarlets are competing with the Ospreys for the west Wales licence, and the appointment of one of the country’s most prominent political figures to their board will strengthen their case as the battle for survival intensifies.
Political heavyweight joins the board
Jones has long been in the running for prominent Welsh rugby jobs and only narrowly missed out on the WRU chair role to Richard Collier-Keywood back in 2023. With strong roots in Carmarthenshire and from a Welsh-speaking family, Jones has a lifelong association with Welsh rugby.
He played while studying law at Aberystwyth University and is a director of Super Rygbi Cymru outfit Bridgend Ravens. A barrister by profession, Jones represented Bridgend in the Senedd from 1999 to 2021 and served as First Minister of Wales from 2009 to 2018. He now sits in the House of Lords.
The 59-year-old also sits on the Finance, Audit and Risk Committee of the Football Association of Wales.
“Welsh rugby needs four professional teams”
“It is a privilege to join the Scarlets Board,” said Jones. “Rugby has been part of my life for as long as I can remember, and I know what the Scarlets mean to their supporters and to the communities they represent.
“This is a club with an extraordinary history, but its case for the future rests just as firmly on what it delivers today: a pathway for young players, a first-class home at Parc y Scarlets and a place at the heart of life in west Wales. Generations of players have gone from this rugby heartland to represent Wales and the British and Irish Lions. We should be building on that strength.
“I believe Welsh rugby needs four professional teams. The proposal to leave west Wales with one licence puts two clubs with proud histories and important contributions in an impossible position. The West must stand together to secure the future of both of its teams.
“The challenges facing Welsh rugby are real, and they call for clear thinking, sound evidence, transparency and practical solutions. I look forward to working with my fellow Board members, the team at Parc y Scarlets and the wider rugby community to help secure a strong future for the Scarlets and for Welsh rugby. This great club has a huge role to play in the future of our game in Wales.”
Board line-up and chairman’s welcome
Jones is joined on the Scarlets board by chairman Simon Muderack, managing director Jon Daniels, Tonia Antoniazzi MP, Philip Davies, Emyr Wyn Evans, Huw Evans, Sean Fitzpatrick, Ron Jones, Brian Jones, Rupert Moon, Derek Quinnell, Nigel Short and Glan Wise.
“Carwyn is one of the most respected figures in Welsh public life,” said Scarlets chairman Muderack. “He brings the judgement of a former First Minister, a deep understanding of Wales and its communities, and a genuine passion for rugby which will be invaluable to our Scarlets Board. We are delighted that he has chosen to join the Scarlets at such a significant time.”
