Kieran Hardy to make 100th Scarlets appearance

GwenanNews

Wales international scrum-half Kieran Hardy will run out for his 100th Scarlets appearance in Saturday’s BKT United Rugby Championship round 13 clash with Glasgow Warriors at Parc y Scarlets (19:35; Viaplay).

From Pontyberem in the Gwendraeth Valley, Hardy made his Scarlets debut in 2014 and is now in his second spell with the West Walians after a brief stint in Jersey.

The 28-year-old comes in as one of six personnel changes from the late win over Benetton last weekend.

With Gareth Davies dropping to the bench, fellow international Ryan Elias returns from a hamstring injury to skipper the side at hooker.

Sam Costelow and Johnny Williams picked up bumps in training so there has been a reshuffle of the back division.

Ioan Lloyd switches to fly-half to partner Hardy and Ioan Nicholas comes in at full-back.

Eddie James is recalled to the No. 12 jersey alongside Jonathan Davies in midfield.

There is an all-new, all-international front row of Wyn Jones, Ryan Elias and Sam Wainwright. Alex Craig, outstanding against Benetton, packs down alongside Sam Lousi in the second row. Teddy Leatherbarrow, Dan Davis and Vaea Fifita continue in the back row.

On the bench, Dan Jones and Ryan Conbeer are drafted in. Steff Evans is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines with the Achilles injury he picked up late on against Benetton.

Head coach Dwayne Peel said: “We know Glasgow are a really good side, their DNA is that they want to play with high speed of ball, but they have also developed a forward pack who can also muscle up. It is going to be a big challenge, but we are going in off the back of a good win last weekend and we want to continue that momentum, especially being at home in front of our own fans.”

Scarlets team to play Glasgow at Parc y Scarlets on Saturday, March 30 (19:35)

15 Ioan Nicholas; 14 Tom Rogers, 13 Jonathan Davies, 12 Eddie James, 11 Tomi Lewis; 10 Ioan Lloyd, 9 Kieran Hardy; 1 Wyn Jones, 2 Ryan Elias (capt), 3 Sam Wainwright, 4 Alex Craig, 5 Sam Lousi, 6 Teddy Leatherbarrow, 7 Dan Davis, 8 Vaea Fifita.

Reps: 16 Shaun Evans, 17 Kemsley Mathias, 18 Harri O’Connor, 19 Morgan Jones, 20 Carwyn Tuipulotu, 21 Gareth Davies, 22 Dan Jones, 23 Ryan Conbeer

Players unavailable because of injury

Sam Costelow, Johnny Williams, Steff Evans, Joe Roberts, Jarrod Taylor, Josh Macleod, Taine Plumtree, Ken Owens, Isaac Young, Ed Scragg.