Jonathan Davies to make 200th Scarlets appearance

Rob LloydNews

Jonathan Davies will lead out the side on his 200th Scarlets appearance in Friday’s pre-season clash with Dragons RFC at Parc y Scarlets (19:00).

The Wales and British & Irish Lions centre joins an elite group of players to have reached the milestone in the regional era.

Davies made his Scarlets debut as an 18-year-old in a pre-season match in Northampton in 2006.

He has gone on to feature in European semi-finals and was a key member of the side that lifted the Guinness PRO12 title in 2017.

Head coach Dwayne Peel has made wholesale changes from last weekend’s loss to Cardiff at the Arms Park.

Behind the scrum, Johnny McNicholl comes in at full-back with Tom Rogers switching to the right wing. Ryan Conbeer retains his place on the left wing.

Davies partners Ioan Nicholas in midfield, while Ioan Lloyd links up with Kieran Hardy at half-back.

In the pack, 19-year-old hooker Isaac Young is handed his first Scarlets start and packs down between new Wales cap Kemsley Mathias and fellow international Sam Wainwright.

Alex Craig, a summer signing from Gloucester, has recovered from injury and is set for his Scarlets debut alongside Morgan Jones in the second row.

The back row features Taine Plumtree, Dan Davis and No. 8 Carwyn Tuipulotu.

Tickets are available, priced £10 for adults and £5 for season ticket holders.

Scarlets v Dragons (Parc y Scarlets; 19:00)

15 Johnny McNicholl; 14 Tom Rogers, 13 Ioan Nicholas, 12 Jonathan Davies (capt), 11 Ryan Conbeer; 10 Ioan Lloyd, 9 Kieran Hardy; 1 Kemsley Mathias, 2 Isaac Young, 3 Sam Wainwright, 4 Alex Craig, 5 Morgan Jones, 6 Taine Plumtree, 7 Dan Davis, 8 Carwyn Tuipulotu.

Reps: 16 Lewis Morgan, 17 Steff Thomas, 18 Wyn Jones, 19 Jac Price, 20 Iwan Shenton, 21 Teddy Leatherbarrow, 22 Ben Williams, 23 Efan Jones, 24 Charlie Titcombe, 25 Eddie James, 26 Tomi Lewis.