2018–19 Scarlets season

The 2018–19 season was the 15th season in the history of the Scarlets, a Welsh regional rugby union side based in Llanelli, Carmarthenshire. In this season, they competed in the Pro14 and the European Rugby Champions Cup. This season, Welsh internationals Scott Williams and Aled Davies, Scottish international John Barclay and Irishman Tadhg Beirne were high-profile departures, while new recruits included internationals Kieron Fonotia, Uzair Cassiem and Sam Hidalgo-Clyne.

Scarlets
2018–19 season
Head coachWayne Pivac
Chief executiveDarran Phillips
ChairmanNigel Short
Pro 144th, Conference B
European Rugby Champions Cup3rd, Pool 4
Top try scorerLeague: Johnny McNicholl (11)
All: Johnny McNicholl (15)
Top points scorerLeague: Leigh Halfpenny (78)
All: Leigh Halfpenny (93)
Highest home attendance12,012 vs. Ospreys (6 October 2018)
Lowest home attendance7,180 vs. Benetton Rugby (15 September 2018)
Average home attendance8,317

Pre-season and friendlies

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Date Opponents H / A Result
F–A
Scorers Attendance
18 August 2018 Bristol Bears H 28–19 Tries: Blommetjies (2), T. Lewis, Penalty try
Conversions: D. Jones (3)
24 August 2018 Bath A 12–45 Tries: Patchell, Kruger
Conversion: Halfpenny

Pro 14

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Fixtures

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Date Opponents H / A Result
F–A
Scorers Attendance Table
position
1 September 2018 Ulster A 13–15 Try: Patchell 7' c
Conversion: Patchell 8'
Penalties: D. Jones (2) 55', 62'
11,822 3rd
8 September 2018 Leinster H 23–21 Tries: Owens 11' c, G. Davies 68' c
Conversions: Halfpenny (2) 12', 69'
Penalties: Halfpenny (3) 34', 50', 63'
7,258 5th
15 September 2018 Benetton Rugby H 38–29 Tries: G. Davies (2) 4' c, 34' m, Fonotia 11' m, McNicholl 59' c,
Kennedy 63' c, Prydie 80' c
Conversions: Halfpenny (4) 4', 60', 64', 80+2'
7,180 1st
22 September 2018 Connacht A 20–33 Tries: McNicholl 29' c, Prydie 72' c
Conversions: Halfpenny (2) 29', 73'
Penalties: Halfpenny (2) 9', 20'
5,839 3rd
29 September 2018 Southern Kings H 54–14 Tries: Jo. Davies (2) 9' c, 24' c, Asquith 15' c, Nicholas 42' c,
D. Davis 58' c, Gardiner 65' m, S. Evans 72' c, Hardy 80' c
Conversions: Patchell (5) 10', 16', 24', 43', 59', O'Brien (2) 74', 80+1'
7,529 2nd
6 October 2018 Ospreys H 20–17 Tries: McNicholl 15' c, Patchell 56' c
Conversions: Halfpenny (2) 16', 57'
Penalties: Halfpenny 40+2', 50'
12,012 2nd
26 October 2018 Southern Kings A 41–34 Tries: D. Hughes 27' c, Boyde 39' m, Nicholas 41' c,
Kruger 63' c, Hardy 72' c, T. Davies 77' m
Conversions: D. Jones (4) 28', 42', 63', 73'
Penalty: D. Jones 16'
2,473 2nd
2 November 2018 Edinburgh A 21–31 Tries: M. Williams 14' c, Asquith 38' c, McNicholl 49' c
Conversions: D. Jones (3) 15', 39', 50'
5,037 2nd
23 November 2018 Ulster H 29–12 Tries: Kruger 25' c, Hardy 36' c, Fonotia 39' m, Prydie 60' c
Conversions: D. Jones (3) 26', 36', 62'
Penalty: D. Jones 18'
7,788 2nd
1 December 2018 Glasgow Warriors A 20–29 Tries: Jo. Davies 46' m, S. Evans 68' m, Blommetjies 74' c
Conversion: Patchell 76'
Penalty: Patchell 6'
7,351 2nd
22 December 2018 Ospreys A 12–19 Penalties: Patchell (3) 5', 10', 26', D. Jones 71' 13,251 2nd
29 December 2018 Cardiff Blues H 5–34 Try: McNicholl 11' m 10,622 4th
5 January 2019 Dragons H 22–13 Tries: Nicholas 56' m, Hidalgo-Clyne 74' m
Penalties: D. Jones (4) 3', 11', 37', 40+1
8,167 4th
25 January 2019 Leinster A 17–22 Tries: Hardy (2) 51' c, 73' c
Conversions: D. Jones 52', 74'
Penalty: D. Jones 59'
15,007 4th
16 February 2019 Benetton Rugby A 19–25 Tries: Hardy 18' c', McNicholl (2) 35' m, 57' c
Conversions: D. Jones 20', Patchell 58'
3,100 5th
24 February 2019 Cheetahs H 43–21 Tries: Cassiem 2' c, McNicholl 8' c, Fonotia 12' c,
Macleod 19', Wyn Jones 42' c, Asquith 68' m
Conversions: D. Jones 3', Halfpenny (4) 9', 13', 20', 43'
Penalty: Halfpenny 55'
7,200 5th
2 March 2019 Munster H 10–6 Try: Nicholas 11' c
Conversion: Halfpenny 12'
Penalty: Halfpenny48'
8,032 3rd
22 March 2019 Cardiff Blues A 17–41 Tries: R. Evans (2) 53' c, 66' m, Nicholas 77'
Conversion: Halfpenny 54'
12,000 5th
6 April 2019 Edinburgh H 12–20 Tries: G. Davies 10' c, Jo. Davies 24' m
Conversion: Halfpenny 11'
8,733 5th
13 April 2019 Zebre H 42–0 Tries: Cassiem (2) 12' c, 72' c, Parkes 35' c,
McNicholl 59' c, Hardy 74' c, Nicholas 76' c
Conversions: Halfpenny (6) 13', 36', 60', 72', 75', 76'
8,356 5th
27 April 2019 Dragons A 32-34 Tries: Nicholas 18' c, McNicholl (2) 25' m, 63' c,
G. Davies 29' m, Jo. Davies 60' m
Conversions: Halfpenny (2) 9', 65'
Penalty: Halfpenny 72'
51,297 4th

Champions Cup play-off

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Date Opponents H / A Result
F–A
Scorers Attendance
18 May 2019 Ospreys A 10-21 Try: Jo. Davies 33' c
Conversion: Halfpenny 35'
Penalty: Halfpenny 13'
8,489

Table

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Conference B
Pos Team Pld W D L F A PD BP Pts
3   Benetton 21 11 2 8 474 431 +43 9 57
4   Scarlets 21 10 0 11 510 470 +40 12 52
5   Edinburgh 21 10 0 11 431 436 −5 11 51

Rugby Champions Cup

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Fixtures

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Date Opponents H / A Result
F–A
Scorers Attendance Table
position
13 October 2018 Racing 92 H 13–14 Tries: G. Davies 52' m, McNicholl 57' m
Penalty: Halfpenny 9'
8,064 3rd
19 October 2018 Leicester Tigers A 27-45 Tries: G. Davies 14' c, S. Evans 52' c, Thomson 59' c
Penalties: Halfpenny (3) 15', 52', 60'
Penalties: Halfpenny (2) 28', 39'
18.832 4th
7 December 2018 Ulster H 24–25 Tries: S. Evans (2) 25' c, 60' c, D. Davis 79' c
Conversions: Patchell (2) 26', 61, D. Jones 79'
Penalty: Patchell 1'
7,421 4th
14 December 2018 Ulster A 15–30 Tries: Jo. Davies 48' c, Prydie 77' m
Conversion: Patchell 49'
Penalty: Patchell 38'
12,124 4th
12 January 2019 Leicester Tigers H 33–10 Tries: R. Evans (2) 25' m, 46' c, Owens 36' c,
McNicholl 49' c, S. Evans 63' c
Conversions: D. Jones 36', 48', 50', 64'
8,087 3rd
19 January 2019 Racing 92 A 33–46 Tries: S. Evans 21' c, McNicholl (2) 45' c, 75' c
Conversions: D. Jones (2) 22', 45', Hidalgo-Clyne 76'
Penalties: D. Jones (4) 2', 19', 40', 50'
14,418 3rd

Table

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Pos Team Pld W D L F A PD BP Pts
1   Racing 92 6 5 0 1 196 121 +75 6 26
2   Ulster 6 5 0 1 131 128 +3 2 22
3   Scarlets 6 1 0 5 145 170 −25 3 7
4   Leicester Tigers 6 1 0 5 115 168 −53 3 7

Statistics

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(+ in the Apps column denotes substitute appearance, positions listed are the ones they have started a game in during the season)

Pos. Name Pro 14 European Champions Cup Total Discipline
Apps Try Con Pen Drop Pts Apps Try Con Pen Drop Pts Apps Try Con Pen Drop Pts    
FB   Clayton Blommetjies 3+3 1 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 3+3 1 0 0 0 5 0 0
FB   Leigh Halfpenny 10 0 18 16 0 78 2 0 3 3 0 15 12 0 21 19 0 93 0 0
FB/WG   Morgan Williams 1+2 1 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 1+2 1 0 0 0 5 0 0
WG/FB   Johnny McNicholl 20 11 0 0 0 55 5 4 0 0 0 20 25 15 0 0 0 75 1 0
WG   Tom Prydie 9+2 3 0 0 0 15 3 1 0 0 0 5 12+2 4 0 0 0 20 0 0
WG   Steff Evans 3+4 2 0 0 0 10 6 5 0 0 0 25 9+4 7 0 0 0 35 0 0
WG   Ioan Nicholas 13+3 7 0 0 0 35 1+1 0 0 0 0 0 14+4 7 0 0 0 35 0 0
CE/WG   Paul Asquith 10+5 3 0 0 0 15 0+4 0 0 0 0 0 10+9 3 0 0 0 15 0 0
CE   Steffan Hughes 3+1 0 0 0 0 0 0+3 0 0 0 0 0 3+4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
CE   Kieron Fonotia 14+2 3 0 0 0 15 2 0 0 0 0 0 16+2 3 0 0 0 15 0 0
CE   Jonathan Davies 8 5 0 0 0 25 5 1 0 0 0 5 13 6 0 0 0 30 0 0
CE/FH   Hadleigh Parkes 9 1 0 0 0 5 5+1 0 0 0 0 0 13+1 1 0 0 0 5 0 0
FH/FB   Rhys Patchell 7+6 2 8 4 0 38 2 0 3 2 0 12 9+6 2 11 6 0 50 0 0
FH   Dan Jones 13+4 0 14 10 0 58 3+3 0 7 4 0 26 16+7 0 21 14 0 84 0 0
FH   Angus O'Brien 0+3 0 2 0 0 4 1 0 0 0 0 0 1+3 0 2 0 0 4 0 0
SH   Sam Hidalgo-Clyne 4+8 1 0 0 0 5 0+4 0 1 0 0 2 4+12 1 1 0 0 7 0 0
SH   Gareth Davies 9+2 4 0 0 0 20 6 2 0 0 0 10 15+2 6 0 0 0 30 0 0
SH   Kieran Hardy 8+8 7 0 0 0 35 0+1 0 0 0 0 0 8+9 7 0 0 0 35 0 0
SH   Jonathan Evans 0+1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0+1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
N8   Uzair Cassiem 9+4 3 0 0 0 15 2+1 0 0 0 0 0 11+5 3 0 0 0 15 0 0
N8/FL   Josh Macleod 12+1 1 0 0 0 5 2+1 0 0 0 0 0 14+2 1 0 0 0 5 0 0
FL/N8   Blade Thomson 8+1 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 0 5 10+1 1 0 0 0 5 0 0
FL/N8   Will Boyde 10+2 1 0 0 0 5 4 0 0 0 0 0 14+2 1 0 0 0 5 0 0
FL   James Davies 5 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
FL   Dan Davis 7+5 1 0 0 0 5 2+1 1 0 0 0 5 9+6 2 0 0 0 10 0 0
FL   Tom Phillips 0+4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0+4 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
LK/FL   Ed Kennedy 8+6 1 0 0 0 5 3 0 0 0 0 0 11+6 1 0 0 0 5 1 0
LK/FL   Lewis Rawlins 4+6 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 6+6 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
LK/FL   Tom Price 2+6 0 0 0 0 0 1+4 0 0 0 0 0 3+10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
LK   Steve Cummins 12 0 0 0 0 0 0+1 0 0 0 0 0 12+1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
LK   David Bulbring 11+3 0 0 0 0 0 6 0 0 0 0 0 17+3 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
LK   Jake Ball 10 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 12 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
LK   Josh Helps 5+5 0 0 0 0 0 2+2 0 0 0 0 0 7+7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
HK/N8   Ken Owens 11+1 0 0 0 0 0 5 1 0 0 0 5 16+1 1 0 0 0 5 0 0
HK   Ryan Elias 6+8 0 0 0 0 0 2+2 0 0 0 0 0 8+10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
HK   Marc Jones 4+5 0 0 0 0 0 0+2 0 0 0 0 0 4+7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
HK   Dafydd Hughes 1+5 1 0 0 0 5 0+1 0 0 0 0 0 1+6 1 0 0 0 5 0 0
HK   Taylor Davies 0+1 1 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0+1 1 0 0 0 5 0 0
PR   Werner Kruger 11+10 1 0 0 0 5 0+4 0 0 0 0 0 11+14 1 0 0 0 5 0 0
PR   Rob Evans 6+1 2 0 0 0 10 3+1 2 0 0 0 10 9+2 4 0 0 0 20 0 0
PR   Simon Gardiner 0+9 1 0 0 0 5 0+2 0 0 0 0 0 0+11 1 0 0 0 5 0 0
PR   Phil Price 8+6 0 0 0 0 0 0+1 0 0 0 0 0 8+7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
PR   Samson Lee 10 0 0 0 0 0 6 0 0 0 0 0 16 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
PR   Wyn Jones 7+7 1 0 0 0 5 3+3 0 0 0 0 0 10+10 1 0 0 0 5 1 0
PR   Dylan Evans 0+6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0+6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
PR   Javan Sebastian 0+1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0+1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Stats accurate as of match played 18 May 2019

Transfers

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Date confirmed Pos. Name From Ref.
29 November 2017 CE   Kieron Fonotia Ospreys [1]
27 February 2018 LK   Blade Thomson   Hurricanes [2]
20 March 2018 N8   Uzair Cassiem   Cheetahs [3]
10 April 2018 FB   Clayton Blommetjies [4]
1 May 2018 SH   Sam Hidalgo-Clyne   Edinburgh [5]
  Kieran Hardy   Jersey Reds
15 May 2018 FH   Angus O'Brien Dragons [6]
FL   Ed Kennedy   Randwick
LK   Matthew Davies Neath [7]
24 August 2018 HK   Marc Jones   Sale Sharks [8]
Date confirmed Pos. Name To Ref.
3 October 2017 LK   Tadhg Beirne   Munster [9]
17 November 2017 FL   John Barclay   Edinburgh [10]
29 November 2017 CE   Scott Williams Ospreys [11]
4 December 2017 SH   Aled Davies [12]
26 February 2018 N8   Jack Condy Retired [13]
13 April 2018 WG   Tom Grabham [14]
14 April 2018 HK   Emyr Phillips [15]
29 April 2018 FB   Tom Williams Unattached [16]
23 January 2019 PR   Rhys Fawcett Dragons (loan) [17]
14 March 2019 SH   Sam Hidalgo-Clyne   Harlequins (loan) [18]
9 April 2019 FB   Clayton Blommetjies   Leicester Tigers (loan) [19]

References

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  1. ^ "Scott Williams: Wales centre joins Ospreys from Scarlets". bbc.co.uk. BBC Sport. 29 November 2017. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
  2. ^ "Scarlets sign Blade Thomson, a back row forward, from Hurricanes". bbc.co.uk. BBC Sport. 7 February 2018. Retrieved 7 February 2018.
  3. ^ "Scarlets sign South African Cassiem". wru.co.uk. Welsh Rugby Union. 20 March 2018. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
  4. ^ "Scarlets confirms signing of Blommetjies". scarlets.wales. Scarlets. 10 April 2018. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  5. ^ "Sam Hidalgo-Clyne and Kieran Hardy sign for Scarlets". skysports.com. Sky Sports. 1 May 2018. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
  6. ^ "Scarlets add two exciting youngsters to squad". scarlets.wales. Scarlets. 15 May 2018. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  7. ^ "A Fond Farewell". neathrugby.wales. Neath RFC. 15 May 2018. Archived from the original on 16 May 2018. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  8. ^ "Marc Jones Leaves Sale Sharks". salesharks.com. Sale Sharks. 24 August 2018. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  9. ^ "Confirmed: Tadhg Beirne will be a Munster player next season". Irish Times. 3 October 2017. Retrieved 20 March 2018.[permanent dead link]
  10. ^ "John Barclay: Scotland captain's move to Edinburgh from Scarlets confirmed". BBC Sport. 17 November 2017. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
  11. ^ "Scott Williams to leave Scarlets for Ospreys next season". ITV Wales. 29 November 2017. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
  12. ^ "Ospreys sign Scarlets scrum-half Aled Davies on two-year deal". BBC Sport. 4 December 2017. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
  13. ^ "Promising young Welsh rugby star forced to retire at the age of just 23". Wales Online. 26 February 2018. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
  14. ^ "Tom Grabham: Scarlets wing forced to retire through injury". BBC Sport. 13 April 2018. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  15. ^ "Scarlets and Wales hooker Phillips to retire at end of season". BBC Sport. 14 April 2018. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  16. ^ "Enjoyed the last 3 years at @scarlets_rugby". Twitter. 29 April 2018. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
  17. ^ "Dragons sign ex-Wales U20s prop from Scarlets". RugbyPass. 23 January 2019. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
  18. ^ "Sam Hidalgo-Clyne: Harlequins sign scrum-half on loan from Scarlets". BBC Sport. 14 March 2019. Retrieved 14 March 2019.
  19. ^ "Clayton Blommetjies: Leicester Tigers sign Scarlets back on loan". BBC Sport. 9 April 2019. Retrieved 11 April 2019.