Scarlets have named a 30-man squad containing six debutants for Saturday’s opening pre-season match against Exeter Chiefs at Sandy Park on Saturday (3pm ko).
New signings Gareth Anscombe, John McKee, Harvey Cuckson, George Roberts and Isaac Murray-Macgregor are all included in the travelling party heading to the West Country, along with a host of young senior academy talents.
Skipper Josh Macleod, confirmed as club captain for a fourth successive season, will lead the team for the first of three pre-season games ahead of the BKT United Rugby Championship opener against Cardiff on September 26.
Ioan Nicholas, Callum Woolley and Macs Page make up an exciting back three, while in midfield Wales international Joe Roberts lines up alongside another Burry Port product in Gabe McDonald.
Experienced Wales international Gareth Anscombe is handed the Scarlets No. 10 jersey for the first time following his move from Aviron Bayonnais and he partners Dane Blacker at half-back.
Up front, Josh Morse packs down at loose-head alongside hooker McKee – a summer arrival from Leinster – and tight-head Gabe Hawley in the front row.
Dutch U20s international Gabe Cahsay is joined by Cuckson in the second row, while Macleod, Tristan Davies and Wales U20s No. 8 Dom Kossuth make up the back row.
An extended bench includes 17-year-old Tenby fly-half Madoc Evans – who will be one of the youngest players to represent the Scarlets in the professional era – and 36-year-old British & Irish Lion Gareth Davies, who is heading into his 19th professional season. New signings Roberts and Murray-Macgregor are also set to feature as replacements.
Looking forward to a first hit-out for the new-look squad, Director of Rugby Nigel Davies said: “The focus in pre-season has been about cranking up the dial to play with the level speed and intensity we want to and challenging our skills with that. This is the next stage of our preparations against an Exeter squad packed with quality.
“It is an opportunity to see young players who have trained well over the summer, test some new combinations and also give some of our new boys a chance to pull on the jersey for the first time.”
Scarlets v Exeter Chiefs (Sandy Park; 3pm ko)
15 Ioan Nicholas; 14 Callum Woolley, 13 Joe Roberts, 12 Gabe McDonald, 11 Macs Page; 10 Gareth Anscombe, 9 Dane Blacker; 1 Josh Morse, 2 John McKee, 3 Gabe Hawley, 4 Gabe Cahsay, 5 Harvey Cuckson, 6 Tristan Davies, 7 Josh Macleod (capt), 8 Dom Kossuth.
Reps from: George Roberts, Sam O’Connor, Rhys Fawcett, Harri O’Connor, Sam Lousi, Jac Price, Osian Williams, Joe Denman, Dan Davis, Gareth Davies, Madoc Evans, Ioan Jones, Jac Davies, Isaac Murray-Macgregor, Iori Badham.
Injury update
Chris Apoua tore his Achilles during a training session last week. Chris is set to see a specialist today. The club can confirm that Chris will be returning to New Zealand and we wish him well with his recovery.
Taine Plumtree is recovering from an operation on a shoulder injury sustained on Wales duty over the summer. Taine is expected to return to action in October.
Carwyn Leggatt-Jones has a quad muscle injury and is scheduled to return to rugby in October.
Johnny Williams is recovering from shoulder surgery and is set to return to action in October.
Alex Groves underwent shoulder surgery at the end of last season and is set to be available in the opening weeks of the URC season.
Elis Price has undergone surgery on his ACL (knee) and is likely to be out for the 2026-27 season