SCARLETS NEWS

SCARLETS NEWS

SCARLETS

We are saddened to learn that John Rees, a stalwart of schoolboy rugby in the region, has died at the age of 90.

Mr Rees will be remembered for nearly 70 years of work supporting schools rugby in Llanelli, helping generations of Llanelli schoolboys achieve their rugby ambitions. Scarlets president Phil Bennett said: “John Rees will be remembered as a true local hero. He was a gentleman and a lovely guy to talk to. He was respected by all who came into contact with him. His influence in nurturing young rugby talent was immense in this area and will be remembered for years to come.

“I was a Coleshill (school) boy and Mr Rees was in the Gram (Grammar School) but he always made sure we ‘secondary modern’ boys were looked after and got our chances. “I was chatting to Derek Quinnell after hearing the sad news of his death and we both wondered where we would be without the help and guidance and mentoring of Mr Rees. “There are generations of rugby players who owe so much to Mr Rees - and the roll-call of players who came through the ranks of Llanelli schoolboys reads like a Who’s Who of Welsh rugby. SCARLETS Vs EMIRATES LIONS

“He was an inspirational man and I am sure I speak for everyone in the world of rugby in sending sincere condolences to his family and friends.” Four years ago, Mr Rees was awarded the prestigious Walter Hughes trophy for services to sport at the annual Brin Isaac Memorial Awards dinner in Llanelli.

The funeral will be held on Tuesday, October 12, at 11am at Bryn Chapel, Llanelli. It will be followed by burial in the chapel cemetery. There is no limit on numbers, but mourners are asked to wear masks and use the provided hand sanitisers.

Mr Rees is survived by his wife Pam, children Hugh and Catrin, grandchildren and great-grandson.

Tomas Lezana became the 242nd player to represent the Scarlets on the international stage when he came off the bench for Argentina in their defeat to the All Blacks on the Gold Coast.

SCARLETS NEWS

Parc y Scarlets recently hosted the world premiere of La Cha Cha, the new romantic comedy film from Kevin Allen, the director of Twin Town. Starring the likes of Rhys Ifans, Keith Allen, Alfie Allen, Dougray Scott, Ruby Ashbourne Serkis, Liam Hourican and Melanie Walters of Gavin and Stacey fame, film includes cameos from Scarlets legend Phil Bennett as well as Lions captain Alun Wyn Jones, Swans icon Alan Curtis and former Wales international rugby star James Hook. Set on the Gower Peninsula, La Cha Cha is a counterculture romantic comedy about community, love and not going gentle into that good night.

Wales international and British & Irish Lion Jonathan Davies will captain the Scarlets for the 2021-22 season. Davies has played 170 matches for the Scarlets since making his debut in 2006 and is one of the most decorated centres in international rugby having won 91 caps for Wales and represented the Lions in the Test series in Australia 2013 and New Zealand in 2017. It will be his second stint wearing the Scarlets armband having been a co-captain along with Rob McCusker in 2013. ‘Foxy’ takes the reins from hooker Ken Owens who led the Scarlets for a record-equalling seven successive seasons.

United Rugby Championship (URC) have officially launched URC TV, a new global streaming service offering fans around the world the opportunity to watch games live and on-demand, and follow their team home or away.

URC TV will offer a range of subscription packages including a Season Pass (all games), Ireland Pass (all games featuring Irish Clubs), Weekend Passes (all games within a round) and individual games passes. These will be available for fans watching in Ireland, Europe (excluding UK), US and a number of other territories.

A free service showing a range of highlights, archive matches and snackable videos, will be available in all countries including the UK and South Africa (fans in these countries can watch all games live on Premier Sports and Super Sport respectively). Visit www.urc.tv to sign up.

SCARLETS Vs EMIRATES LIONS

16 TEAMS, 2 HEMISPHERES, 1 LEAGUE

MATCH ACTION SCARLETS Vs EMIRATES LIONS

EDINBURGH

BACKS 15 H. IMMELMAN 14 D. GRAHAM 13 M. BENNETT 12 C. HUTCHISON 11 J. BLAIN 10 B. KINGHORN 09 B. VELLACOTT

FORWARDS 08 V. MATA 07 L. CROSBIE 06 J. RITCHIE 05 G. GILCHRIST 04 M. SYKES 03 ATALIFO 02 S. MCINALLY 01 P. SCHOEMAN

SUBS D. CHERRY, B. VENTER, W. NEL, J. HODGSON, C.BOYLE, H. PYRGOS, J. VAN DER WALT, J. LANG.

4

53

8

25

4

FULL TIME 26

VS 22

THE DAM HEALTH STADIUM SAT 25 SEP·ROUND 1

4 TRIES 3 KINGHORN 24’ 11’ EVANS BENNETT 34’ 50’ HARDY GRAHAM 38’ 65’ MCNICHOLL GRAHAM 57’ 3 CONS 2 KINGHORN 25’ 51’ JONES KINGHORN 34’ 66’ COSTELOW KINGHORN 58’ 0 PENS 1 37’ JONES

TRIES SCORED

POSSESSION %

CLEAN BREAKS

DEFENDERS BEATEN

OFFLOADS

SCARLETS

BACKS 15 mcnicholl 14 conbeer 13 j. davies 12 S. Williams 11 S. Evans 10 D. JONES 09 K. HArdy

FORWARDS 08 S. KALAMAFONI 07 D. DAVIS 06 B. THOMSON 05 T. PRICE 04 A. SHINGLER 03 S. LEE 02 R. ELIAS 01 R. EVANS

SUBS M.JONES, P. PRICE, WG. JOHN, T. PHILIPS, S. EVANS, D. BLACKER, S. COSTELOW, I. NICHOLAS.

3

47

5

10

14

REFEREE ANDY BRACE ASSISTANT REFEREE IAN KENNY ASSISTANT REFEREE GRAEME ORMISTON

TMO OLLY HODGES

Scarlets fall short in Edinburgh thriller SCARLETS Vs EMIRATES LIONS

A stirring second-half comeback packed with character wasn’t enough as Scarlets left the new DAM Health Stadium in Edinburgh with a losing bonus point after a breathless URC round one contest.

Tries by Steff Evans, Kieran Hardy and Johnny McNicholl kept the visitors in contention right up until the final whistle, but it was Edinburgh who held out for a 26-22 win to give a crowd of more than 5,000 a victorious house-warming party.

Scarlets started the match with real tempo, with their off-loading game causing Edinburgh’s defence plenty of problems.

Centre Scott Williams, on his competitive return to the side, had a try chalked off for a forward pass after great interplay behind the scrum, but the Scarlets did turn their pressure into points with a try on 12 minutes by wing Steff Evans.

Sione Kalamafoni made the initial bust and after strong work by front-rowers Rob Evans and Samson Lee, slick hands put the winger over for an acrobatic score in the left-hand corner.

Scarlets could have had a second score shortly afterwards only for hooker Ryan Elias to be held up over the line following a line-out rumble. With scrum-half Ben Vellacott posing a constant threat, the rest of the half belonged to the hosts.

Fly-half Blair Kinghorn hit an inside line for his side’s first try, then centre Mark Bennett sliced through for the second. Dan Jones reduced the arrears with a 40m penalty three minutes before the interval, but on the stroke of half-time flying wing Darcy Graham darted away from a ruck.

Despite protestations from the Scarlets that Edinburgh infringed in the build-up, the score remained and Edinburgh went in at the break 19-8 to the good. Scarlets and Steff Evans thought they had their second try of the night seven minutes after the restart, but the wing just put his foot on the touchline as he dived over in the corner.

However, moments later scrum-half Kieran Hardy darted blind, spotted the gap and raced over unopposed to bring the visitors right back into the match.

Edinburgh and, in particular, that man Graham were refusing to buckle though and on 57 minutes the winger stepped his way over for his second and Edinburgh’s fourth and bonus-point try. But the see-sawing nature of the contest continued in a breathless final period. On 66 minutes, a clever switch of play by replacement Dane Blacker found space, Jon Davies fended off a defender to burst through and his pass found Johnny McNicholl on a lovely inside line for the score. Sam Costelow struck a beautiful conversion and it was a one-score game again.

Scarlets had a couple of attacking line-outs in the final moments as they pressed for the win, but it was Edinburgh who held out to clinch a thriller. Replacement Tom Phillips left the field on a stretcher, but was up and about on crutches after the game.