SCARLETS RETURN TO MEMORABLE MADEJSKI FOR LV=CUP ROUND TWO

The Scarlets will be looking to back-up their big win against Leeds Carnegie in the Anglo Welsh LV=Cup at home last weekend with a strong performance back in Reading where they beat London Irish in the Heineken Cup last season.

After a memorable win (27-25) against the formidable English side at the Madejski in October 2009 in Europe, the Scarlets return knowing they will have a battle on their hands.  They return with a youthful and dynamic team who showed plenty of flair and pace last weekend together with a solid performance up-front against a physical Leeds side.

Many of the faces in the Scarlets’ winning line-up last weekend return to face the big London Irish challenge including hat-trick try hero Samoan international Jonny Fa’amatuainu.

Wales squad talent centre Scott Williams is released back to the region from international training as well outside half Dan Newton who individually put 16 points on the board in the seven try victory. Flanker Johnathan Edwards returns from injury and Dominic Day gets a start in the second row. On the bench returns wing talent Andy Fenby who is back from injury after six weeks out.

And 19-year-old Wales Commonwealth Games Sevens talent Lee Rees (wing) gets his first start for the Scarlets.  Ress from Penygroes, has been with the Scarlets Academy and playing with Llandovery RFC.

Scarlets Prop Phil John (180 appearances, 60 points) takes the captain’s armband and is the fourth Scarlets captain this season – with all three predecessors producing first-time winning games on home soil.

Scarlets starting XV v London Irish, Madejski Stadium, Sunday 14th November 2010 kick-off 2.30pm:  15 Daniel Evans, 14 Lee Rees, 13 Nick Reynolds, 12 Scott Williams, 11 Lee Williams, 10 Dan Newton, 9 Martin Roberts, 1 Phil John (capt), 2 Emyr Philips, 3 Peter Edwards, 4 Aaron Shingler, 5 Dominic Day, 6 Jonny Fa’amatuainu, 7 Johnathan Edwards, 8 Ben Morgan.

Replacements: 16 Ken Owens, 17 Rhodri Jones, 18 Simon Gardiner, 19 Damian Welch, 20 Nic Cudd 21 Gareth Davies, 22 Steven Shingler, 23 Andy Fenby.

The Scarlets go into round two of their LV= campaign on the back of a healthy start to the season (seven wins from ten) and a good run in last year’s Anglo Welsh competition coming second in their pool; with wins against Wasps away and Worcester at home, drawing 15-15 away at Harlequins and only losing out to Cardiff Blues in the final pool stage.

Head Coach Nigel Davies said: “The LV= competition gives some of our wider squad the chance to start, to get their hands on the Scarlets shirt and last week I was really impressed with the boys, their attitude to the game and their commitment to keep a forward momentum going in this team.  The performance has given them confidence and it’s great for their development to play at the top level – and it doesn’t come much tougher than playing London Irish at home.”

“We know that it’s going to be a big challenge on Sunday against a strong team but this is the kind of experience players like ours thrive on and I am really pleased with how this group is progressing and the competition we are creating in this squad.

“While there are many of our new generation of Scarlets in this side, there are some experienced heads in there too and I’m pleased to give Phil John his opportunity to lead our team in such a big game which will be great experience for him too.”

Scarlets have been drawn in pool 3 with Northampton Saints, Gloucester Rugby and Sale Sharks but will play against opponents drawn in pool 2 (Saracens, London Irish, Leeds Carnegie, Newport Gwent Dragons).

Saracens will visit Parc y Scarlets on the 29th January 2011 for the third round. The last encounter between the two sides was a win for the Welsh region away at Vicarage Road on October 2008, winning by 26 points to 17.

The last opponents in the pool stages will be Newport Gwent Dragons away at Rodney Parade on the February 3rd 2011.

The LV= Cup is made up of teams the four Welsh regions and the 12 Aviva Premiership English sides.

Scarlets Prop Phil John (180 appearances, 60 points) takes the captain’s armband and is the region’s SIXTH captain this season – with four first-time Scarlets captains winning their games as skipper already this season (Matthew Rees, Iestyn Thomas, Sean Lamont and Ken Owens).