Scarlets investors outline just why they have to be the ones to survive any cull of pro teams

NEW Scarlets investors House of Sports & Entertainment are adamant they should be the team in the west if the Welsh Rugby Union cuts to two professional clubs.

- STEFFAN THOMAS Rugby correspondent

House of Luxury (HOL) have recently began an investment partnership with the Scarlets and its sports section House of Sports & Entertainment have assumed day-to-day control of the club's off-field activity.

Over time they aim to take a 55% share of the club.

The company facilitates off-market deals for high value assets, focusing on both private acquisitions and confidential sales.

Its owners insist they have huge passion for Welsh rugby and plan to be involved for the long haul.

Over the next couple of weeks the WRU are set to begin a formal consultation if what they see as the optimal structure is agreed by the board.

It is an open secret the WRU are expected to push for a reduction to two teams, with one based in the east and another in the west.

Unless a merger is forthcoming, which has so far been ruled out by House of Sports & Entertainment, it could well put the Scarlets in a two-way battle with the Ospreys for the right to become the west Wales team, with a tender process to follow.

"I think three things are important here," said HOL's chief experience officer Simon Kozlowski.

"Firstly we need the budget to pay for all of this stuff.

"That is only going to come from a solid economic model where you are switching on your revenue streams, integrating the community and you are creating good revenue flow.

"Without that, all of this stuff falls apart.

"The second thing you need is a talent pipeline. I can tell you that Scarlets, even in the current constraints, are heavily investing in talent pipeline development.

"We don't even need to touch that because they are already going in heavy on them.

"In terms of how they are bringing that talent through there is room for improvement.

"We believe we have the expertise to assist with that.

"The third thing you need and this is the big elephant in the room - a facility.