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Scarlets statement: Region defends 'bold' Llanelli RFC decision
Scarlets have withdrawn Llanelli RFC from next season’s Welsh Premiership over fears that it doesn’t have enough players to adequately resource both teams amid the ongoing financial uncertainty surrounding the sport in Wales. The situation is complicated by the pressure of Scarlets having its leading players away at the World Cup in France for the opening months of the season.
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A statement read: “Llanelli RFC to focus on player development next season. The club announces its intention to withdraw from the Premiership competition for 2023/24 in light of a ‘unique’ rugby season ahead in Welsh Rugby.
“Llanelli RFC, with the support and agreement of its committee and the Scarlets board, voted at its most recent board meeting that it will give notice to the WRU of its intention to withdraw from the expanded 14-team Indigo Premiership competition next season to focus solely on player development in partnership with the Scarlets.
“The decision has been made in light of an unprecedented season of rugby ahead in Wales which sees the number of Premiership league fixtures and cup games increase to 30, coupled with significant pressures on player availability during the Rugby World Cup and once-in-a-generation cost pressures.
“The 2023/24 season and its pre-season training programmes in the semi-professional and professional games do not align with competitive fixtures planned to start some seven weeks apart – with the Indigo Premiership starting in early September and the professional game at the end of October 2023.
"I feel teams are a lot braver in the URC"@scarlets_rugby assistant coach Lee Blackett found himself having to adjust following the demise of Wasps. He talks coaching, URC, being on the road and what the future holds, w/ @heagneyl 👨💻 #wasps https://t.co/3zswzMJ6nJ
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) February 26, 2023
“Llanelli RFC will continue to operate fully and intends to play competitive matches outside of the Premiership calendar as a development team next season, supporting the Scarlets player pathway and true to its heritage, purpose and success in developing future rugby talent from within the region for Scarlets and Wales. Llanelli RFC will fulfil all five of its remaining Indigo Premiership fixtures this season.
“Withdrawal from the Premiership in 2023/24 should not in its view preclude Llanelli RFC from being part of any proposed new development competition in 2024/25, which could come under the remit of Welsh Rugby’s pro rugby board (PRB) and rugby management board (RMB) to underpin the professional game.
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“The decision has the full backing of the Scarlets board and its executive, including Scarlets head coach Dwayne Peel, as a unique and unprecedented season of rugby approaches in Wales with increased pressures on player availability in professional squads which will be reduced in size due to international call-ups, tighter playing budgets and season average injury rates of 20 per cent.”
Scarlets heritage director Rupert Moon explained: “This may seem to be a bold decision, but it is made with responsibility and common sense at its heart. For the good of Llanelli RFC and Scarlets, the club must stay true to its purpose and focus on helping develop and support future Scarlets and Wales players next season.
“Llanelli RFC can be stronger and more focused as a result of this decision with a streamlined and structured season focusing solely on player development, training and support with the intention to play some exciting, meaningful and high-profile competitive fixtures outside the Premiership calendar next season.
“The new-look Premiership next season is not a model for player development. The semi-pro and pro rugby seasons don’t align. The pressures of a 30-fixture Premiership season for Llanelli RFC without senior development players being available as they integrate with Scarlets, plus increased financial pressures and player availability issues in a World Cup year means competing next season in the Premiership competition is just not possible.
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“Llanelli RFC simply would not be able to fulfil all its fixtures next season, which would disrupt the competition and stretch its resources too far, detracting from its key purpose to bring young players through.
“We fully appreciate and respect how passionate our supporters and partners are about rugby in this part of the world and with their support, understanding and unity we can stay true to our values as a rugby community, protect our heritage and support our future success in challenging times.”
Comments on RugbyPass
The shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to commentsOh dear, bones too suspect to continue?
2 Go to commentsBold headline considering the Canes and Blues are 1 and 2 and the Brumbies were soundly beaten by the Chiefs and Blues. Biggest surprise is Rebels 4 Crusaders 12 - no one saw that coming. If Aus are improving that’s great 👍
1 Go to commentsAnna, You are right, we need to have patience whilst the others catch up to England and France. Also it is the PWR that has been the game changer for England. the RFU put money into that initially at the expense of the Red Roses. I was sceptical at first but it has paid off in spades.
1 Go to commentsI think Matt Proctor became a 1 test AB in the same fixture. Cameron is quality and has been great this season, can’t believe’s he only 27. Realistically how would he not be selected for ABs squad this year. Only Dmac is ahead of him as a specialist 10. With Jordan out, it will come down to where and when Beauden Barrett slots back in, and where they want to play Ruben Love. Cameron seems an absolute lock in for the wider squad though. Added benefit of TJ-Cameron-Jordie combination at 9, 10, 11 too.
1 Go to commentsFarcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
1 Go to commentsHavili, our best 12 by a mile, will be in the squad, if he stays fit. JB is the most overrated AB in the last 50 years.
61 Go to commentsWe had during the week twilight footy, twilight cricket, tw golf plus there was the athletics club. Then the weekend was rugby 15s plus the net ball, really busy club scene back then but so much has changed and rugby has suffered. And it was all about changing lifestyles.
6 Go to commentsIn the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getting to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
6 Go to commentsROG’s contract is until 2027. The conversation about a successor to Galthie after RWC 2027 may be starting now. We can infer that Galthie’s reign stops then. He is throwing the Irish Coaching Job angle in because he is Irish. The next Irish coach MUST be Leo Cullen. As well as being the best coach available, coaching the vast majority of Irish Internationals week in week out, he has shown incredible skill at recruiting the best coaching staff for the job in hand. That was a failing in France. Cullen is a shrewd guy and if there is a need for foreign coaches underneath him he won’t hesitate. Rightly so. Ireland does need to start to bring Irish coaches through. Not just at the professional level but we need to train coaches to man new pathways for developing kids from schools/clubs up through the divisions.
8 Go to commentsNo Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
6 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
56 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
8 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
61 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
11 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
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