Around 60 former Scarlets players helped toast the launch of Parc y Scarlets’ new Captains’ Lounge ahead of last weekend’s Challenge Cup game against Newcastle Red Bulls.
Club icons such as Delme Thomas, Gareth Jenkins, Roy Bergiers, Scott Quinnell and Simon Easterby were among the guests at the unveiling of the lounge – situated on the South Stand concourse – which is also the home of new updated honours boards.
Each player, which included the club’s record points scorer Stephen Jones – who was on duty as assistant coach at Newcastle – was also presented with a special commemorative certificate and received an unique playing number as part of a wider heritage project being undertaken by the club.
Speaking in an emotive opening address, former chairman Huw Evans said: “This stadium was built so that this club could survive into the modern game era. It is, we are told, the best rugby facility on a one-site campus in the UK, possibly Europe.
“Back in the day, people asked about its design, construction, materials etc and often, given the immense steel superstructure, its foundations.
“My reply was, and will always remain, the same. The foundations of this stadium, what it is actually built on, are the achievements of the past players who represented this club and upheld the Scarlets traditions and wrote new chapters of history.
“This stadium, without doubt, is here because of you boys, it represents you. This stadium is a living monument to all your efforts, commitment, bravery and skill given in the jersey.
“So if I may, I would like to suggest that when you hear the words Parc y Scarlets, visit or see it on TV – without hesitation, stand a bit straighter, push your chest out a bit more and think quietly to yourself, Parc y Scarlets and the club itself is still standing proud due, in no small part, to my own and my team-mates’ contributions.
“For what you’ve done for the jersey and this incredible, unique club and the people of west Wales; for all the tens, probably, hundreds of thousands of boys and girls you have inspired to play the game, thank you boys. Diolch yn Fawr.”
