Scarlets will host two recent URC champions in the opening five rounds of this season’s competition, but Taine Plumtree insists the squad are relishing the prospect.
Irish heavyweights Munster, who enjoyed an incredible against-the-odds run to the title in 2023, provide the opposition at Parc y Scarlets in round one, then the inaugural URC winners, the DHL Stormers, are in Llanelli in round three.
With Connacht sandwiched in between and a trip to South Africa to follow, it is a testing, but mouthwatering start for Dwayne Peel and his squad.
As for Taine, who is entering his third season with the club, he can’t wait.
“It’s a good way to start, playing against some of the best teams in the league,” said the Wales international back-rower. “If we can get some big results in the opening block it will put us in a good place for the rest of the season.
“We were pleased with how we finished last season, making the play-offs, which was always a goal for us, now we want to build on that.
“If you look back at the early part of last season, if a couple of tight results had gone our way, we would have finished even higher.
“Everyone at the club wants to get better. We want to show again that we are the best side in Wales.”
Taine added: “We have talked a lot about carrying on that momentum from last season. A lot of hard work has been done with physicality in every aspect of the game. Brad (Davies) has come in with a fresh voice as well and has been putting us through our paces. The boys have really got stuck into it.
“Personally, I’m raring to go. I’m feeling fresh, mentally as much as physically. When you get a break it is so important. I was able to spend some time with mum and dad in South Africa, a couple of weeks in Europe, Barcelona and Lisbon and had a lot of fun there. Pre-season is done now and it’s exciting to look forward to that Munster game.”
The Parc y Scarlets faithful played their part in massive wins last season, with notable home scalps of the Bulls, Ospreys and eventual winners Leinster, key to the Scarlets finishing in the play-off spots.
“We have a fantastic, loyal fanbase,” added Taine. “Hopefully we can have a good crowd for Munster because it does help massively.”