There is plenty of jeopardy in the ‘Race to the Eight’ in the top half of the BKT United Rugby Championship on the final weekend of the regular season, but there will also be lots at stake when the curtain comes down at Parc y Scarlets, where the Dragons are the visitors (Saturday 16 May – 5.15pm).
The last Welsh derby of the campaign will determine which of the two regions ends up as the lowest ranked of the four. Both teams are currently tied on 25 points, with the Scarlets taking 14th place over the Dragons in 15th due to having won one more game.
The game will be the last in scarlet for Max Doulgas and Tom Rogers before they move on this summer, while Dragons’ stalwart Aaron Wainwright will have his final appearance for the ‘Men of Gwent’ before his transfer to Leicester Tigers.
It will also be home skipper Josh Macleod’s 150th appearance, while former Wales and British & Irish Lions scrum half Gareth Davies is poised to come off the Scarlets bench to celebrate having signed for another year. That will make it 19 seasons at the region.
“Josh reaching 150 games is a significant moment for the club because he represents so much of what the Scarlets are about. He’s not just our captain, he is a standard-bearer and one of the emotional leaders of this group,” said Scarlets interim director or rugby, Nigel Davies.
“The players respect him enormously because of the levels he drives, the sacrifices he has made and the way he carries himself every single day. He has had setbacks in his career that would have deterred a lot of people, but every time he has come back stronger.
“We’ve felt all week that the boys want to put in a big performance as Josh reaches this milestone and a real determination to finish the season the right way for the players moving on and for our supporters who have backed the team throughout this season and which we are very grateful for.
“Results have not reflected enough of the good work that has been going on, but the players have continued to compete, continue to care and continue to fight for each other.”
Ryan Woodman is one of four changes to the Dragons side that were beaten by Edinburgh at Rodney Parade last weekend, while former Wales and Lions prop Wyn Jones comes into the front row to face his former club.
Behind the scrum, Niall Armstrong will make his final appearance for the Dragons at scrum half and David Richards returns on the wing.
TEAMS
Scarlets: Ioan Jones; Tom Rogers, Macs Page, Joe Roberts, Blair Murray; Joe Hawkins, Dane Blacker; Josh Morse, Ryan Elias, Archer Holz, Jac Price, Max Douglas, Jarrod Taylor, Josh Macleod (capt), Taine Plumtree
Reps: Harry Thomas, Sam O’Connor, Harri O’Connor, Dan Davis, Osian Williams, Gareth Davies, Carwyn Leggatt-Jones, Jac DaviesDragons RFC: Angus O’Brien (co-captain); David Richards, Fine Inisi, Aneurin Owen, Rio Dyer; Tinus de Beer, Niall Armstrong; Wyn Jones, Brodie Coghlan, Dillon Lewis, Seb Davies, Ben Carter (co-captain), Ryan Woodman, Thomas Young, Aaron Wainwright
Reps: Elliot Dee, Rhodri Jones, Chris Coleman, Levi Douglas, Harrison Keddie, Rhodri Williams, Harri Ackerman, Huw AndersonReferee: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)