Memories from as Scarlets vow

WHEN 200 Scarlets fans packed into the Quinnell lounge at Parc y Scarlets, new investor Kirsi Jane Baker was asked whether the Llanelli-based club would consider a merger with arch rivals the Ospreys.

- STEFFAN THOMAS

"We are only focused on Scarlets playing at Parc y Scarlets, playing in red and being called the Scarlets," exclaimed the House of Luxury CEO in response to a question surrounding the Welsh Rugby Union's preference of halving the number of professional clubs in Wales.

It was met by a raucous round of applause by a room full of die hard Scarlets fans.

Baker's response evoked memories of former Scarlets CEO Stuart Gallacher who fought tooth and nail to ensure professional rugby remained in Llanelli 22 years ago when former Welsh Rugby Union CEO David Moffett who is now involved with HOL attempted to push through regionalisation in 2003 with a reduction to five teams.

One plan mooted was a potential merger between Llanelli and Swansea the bitterest of rivals on and off the field - which allegedly prompted Gallacher to say in a meeting with the WRU they would consider it as long as the team was based in Llanelli, was called Llanelli and played in red.

Those running the Scarlets in this day and age have an even bigger fight on their hands.

To be clear, the forum was held a day before the WRU officially announced its optimal solution including a reduction to two teams, but our exclusive story had dropped an hour before the meeting began.

There was a nervous but defiant feel in the air at Parc y Scarlets.

Fans who have followed the Scarlets and Llanelli RFC previously some for over 50 years are genuinely concerned the biggest passion in their lives is about to be extinguished for good.

No surprise then the majority of questions centred around whether the Scarlets would survive the upcoming structural change.

Chairman Simon Muderack and managing director Jon Daniels were both optimistic about the Scarlets' chances.