Llanelli Scarlets

Llanelli Scarlets

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Welsh Rugby Regions 2003

The Llanelli Scarlets are a regional Rugby Union team from Wales, playing in the Celtic League and European Rugby Cup/European Rugby Shield.

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Club History

The Scarlets are one of the five original regions of the Welsh Regional Rugby Era. They are also one of only two of those regions who were not brought about by amalgamation of two or more clubs.

The Scarlets celebrated their centenary in 1972, although there is doubt as to whether the club was actually formed in 1872. The first recorded Scarlets game occurred in 1876, with the famed red/blue jerseys first introduced in 1888. In 2003, the WRU elected to reduce the current top tier of Welsh professional rugby from nine clubs into five regions, effectively mirroring the successful formats in Ireland and the Southern Hemisphere countries of South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.

The Scarlets officially represent the whole of West and North Wales, based mostly around Llanelli although attempts have been made at taking the club to other outposts such as Wrexham. Ownership of the 'region' is held by the owners of Llanelli Rugby Football Club.

Largely drawn from the very successful Llanelli RFC side of the preceding year, the Scarlets have carried that success forth into their inaugural season. They reached the last eight of the 2003/2004 Heineken European Rugby Cup and finished the Celtic League season as champions by four points over Ulster. Several smart signings will see them approach 2004/2005 with confidence.

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Home Ground

The Scarlets play most of their home matches at Llanelli's Stradey Park (home of Llanelli RFC). However they have also played several games in North Wales at Wrexham's Racecourse Ground and will do so again in 2004/2005.

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