Our latest Supporters Evening at Parc y Scarlets proved another success with around 100 fans turning up to the Emerge Quinnell Lounge to hear from club officials.
President Derek Quinnell, Managing Director Jon Daniels, Head Coach Dwayne Peel and Performance Director Leigh Jones addressed the supporters, answering a range of questions from the new kit, kick-off times, the plan for our younger players to the new laws for this season.
You can view highlights of the evening below
Derek Quinnell, President
“Looking at the squad, there is a lot of young talent there, I hope our young talent will develop and that they will make the memories here at Parc y Scarlets as fond as the ones we had at Stradey Park in our time.
“We must thank the players who have retired and who have been the backbone of the Scarlets in recent years, but now we are relying on young players coming through to come together and kick on and make great memories here for us. I believe the young guys are going to do something special here as teams did at Stradey Park many years ago.
“There are times when it’s a bit tough and we as supporters have the carry the players along a bit because we are all part of the same team, the players, coaching team, staff, sponsors and supporters. Let’s hope we all thoroughly enjoy the new season.”
Jon Daniels, Managing Director
“We have a small dedicated and committed team who have really worked hard during challenging times. Going forward we have to maintain as much investment into rugby as we are able to, in order to field as competitive a side as possible. We will have to focus on the things that add value to the club not only in terms of financial but also on the things that you as supporters value the most.
“We now have a front of shirt sponsor and we do aim to launch the kit before the Tigers game and we are fighting as hard as we can to have some shirts in retail to be purchased at
that time too.
“We are up to about 90% of our season membership budget which is good, we have a bit more to go and we would like to get past the target.
“It’s about getting as many people to Parc y Scarlets as we can, to get behind the boys and give them that extra one or two per cent to get them over the line in those tough games.
“Our Scarlets Foundation and community team continue to do a fantastic job and have delivered to thousands of young people across our region this summer. What they do for our community and on our behalf is immensely important to us as a club.
“The backing of our supporters, sponsors, stakeholders and the community we have is what
keeps us going and drives us forward to be the best version of ourselves that we can be. I can’t overstate how grateful and thankful we are for your continued support and we will work tirelessly to work to deliver everything on your behalf. Diolch.”
Dwayne Peel, Head Coach
“It’s a fresh group, there’s a lot of young talent and new faces so it feels very different in terms of personnel. With the younger guys you get that hunger, they are still learning but are enthusiastic and we have had a real bite to our training and they are working really hard.
“It’s been a more condensed pre-season in comparison to last year with the World Cup – so we’ve hit the ground running and the players have stepped up to the plate. We’ve had external guys in too adding to the pre-season programme, including a wrestling coach for example to work on contact and collision. There’s been an emphasis on our forward pack in terms of fitness and conditioning as we’ve recruited heavily in that area particularly in the front five and the quality, willingness, hunger and leadership is definitely adding a level.
“The unity we have together is important going forward, not just in rugby but togetherness for everyone connected with Scarlets – that’s where the strength is working together as a group and with you, our fans.”
Leigh Jones, Performance Director
“The Scarlets support base is going to be really important to us moving forward, as we are a smaller group now the only way it is going to work is if we all pull together and work in the same direction. A big part of my role is to get all the disciplines integrated and working in the same direction and if we do that we will be back where we belong and where this great club should be.”