Scarlets sign up as Founder Member to .cymru .wales

Scarlets have today announced a groundbreaking partnership which will see the region adopt the .cymru .wales domain name.

The West Wales rugby region join an ever growing list of Founder Members who will make the switch later this year including S4C, Sport Wales and the Arts Council for Wales as well as Welsh Government and the National Assembly.

As a Founder Member of .cymru .wales the Scarlets reaffirms its ethos of supporting its rugby community and the wider community within West Wales and beyond. The Scarlets are proud to lead the way in Welsh rugby and support the campaign for .cymru .wales domain which will give brand Wales a firm footing worldwide.

Scarlets General Manager Jon Daniels, speaking at the National Eisteddfod of Wales in Llanelli today said: “Scarlets both serve and represent a community which is passionately Welsh in everything we do. This community includes people and organisations both locally, nationally and internationally through a strong ex pat community. We are extremely conscious that we represent their hopes and aspirations both domestically and on the world stage.

“We hope the Scarlets being one of the first organisations in Wales to adopt .cymru will be as much of a source of pride to them as it is to us. www.scarlets.cymru has a warm feel to it and we look forward to working closely with our partners in the coming months to making it happen.”

He went on to say: “Just as the region’s talented players, such as Gareth Davies and Ken Owens who are with us here today, are recognised on the global stage we as Scarlets are pleased to show our support to Wales, Welsh culture, heritage and sport in this way.

“We are the only Welsh region with a Welsh Language Policy; we are proud of our position as a Welsh speaking region with local Welsh speaking players and staff, as well as a commitment to using the Welsh language online and in all of our literature.

“Being a part of the .cymru family seemed like a natural step for us to take and we will be encouraging our partner businesses to do the same. We’re proud to be supporting the campaign which will ultimately strengthen brand Wales worldwide.”

Carmarthen born Scarlets and Wales hooker Ken Owens supported the Scarlets’ decision to adopt the new domain names and said: “As a proud Scarlet, and proud Welshman, I’m delighted to see the Scarlets adopt the .cymru domain name. We’ve had the opportunity to represent Wales worldwide as individuals and wherever we go in the world people have always heard of the Scarlets.

“We have a very proud history and strong links with our rugby community. Adopting .cymru will no doubt help us gain even further recognition as a proud Welsh region in the UK and globally.”

Former Scarlet, Ieuan Evans, Chair of the Wales Advisory Group for Nominet – who are authorised by the international body ICANN to promote a new top level domain – said: “As a former Scarlet I am delighted that the region have decided to back this campaign and become a Founder Member. Scarlets will pave the way for more sporting Clubs and bodies across Wales to support the campaign and promote their brand and values and place Wales on the Internet.”