Scarlets raid rivals Dragons to ease injury crisis

Scarlets have signed former player Steve Cummins from Welsh rivals Dragons on a short-term deal to ease a second-row injury crisis at the club.

The 33-year-old spent three years in west Wales between 2017 and 2020 before joining Pau in 2021, with a short stint at his former Super Rugby club Melbourne Rebels in between.

Following three years in France, the 6 foot 7 inch Australian returned to Wales with the Dragons in 2024. However, after just two matches of the United Rugby Championship, in which Cummins featured in neither, he will return to Parc y Scarlets.

The lock will provide cover for the absent Sam Lousi, Jac Price, Will Evans and Jake Ball. Lousi is currently dealing with a back issue, while a hamstring injury is keeping Evans sidelined. After featuring the in the first-round loss to Munster, Ball is undergoing his return to play protocols following a head injury in training.

After seeing their second round fixture with Connacht postponed due to Storm Amy, Scarlets currently sit at the foot of the URC ladder. They host the Stormers on Friday, who have won their opening two matches, including a resounding 35-0 round one victory over reigning champions Leinster.

Fixture

United Rugby Championship

Scarlets

0 - 34

Full-time

Stormers

All Stats and Data

Following their contest with the Stormers, the Scarlets will head to South Africa for fixtures against the Lions and the Sharks.

Dragons, meanwhile, arrested an 18-match losing streak in round two by drawing with the Sharks 17-17 at Rodney Parade.

Cummins made 46 appearances for the Scarlets in his first spell, starting in the 2018 Guinness PRO14 final defeat to Leinster and 2018 Champions Cup semi-final in Dublin to the same opponent.