# 2007–08 Llanelli Scarlets season

The 2007–08 season was the fifth in the history of the Llanelli Scarlets regional side. The season saw the Scarlets compete in three competitions: the Celtic League, the EDF Energy Cup and the Heineken Cup. It was also the last full season for the Scarlets in their historic home, Stradey Park. A new ground, Parc y Scarlets, was under construction during that season, and is scheduled to open in November 2008, early in the 2008–09 season.
On the whole, the season was regarded as a disappointment by pundits and fans alike, as the team failed to qualify from the group stage in either the EDF Energy Cup or the Heineken Cup, even failing to pick up any points from any of their six Heineken Cup matches. The team's league form started off much better, remaining around second place for much of the first half of the season. However, as teams began to get players back from World Cup duty, the Scarlets' league form began to suffer, winning just two games in 2008, resulting in a sixth-place finish in the Celtic League. These failures were largely blamed on the team's failure to strengthen the squad sufficiently the previous summer and resulted in coach Phil Davies departing the club.
Welsh internationals Dwayne Peel, Alix Popham and Matthew Watkins also agreed deals to move away from Stradey Park at the end of the season, while hooker Mahonri Schwalger was signed on a short-term contract mid-season to cover for the injured Ken Owens. Other big-name signings in summer 2007 included Welsh internationals Ben Broster and Nathan Brew, as well as Scottish prop Bruce Douglas and English front-five forwards Adam Eustace and James Hayter.

## Pre-season and friendlies

The Scarlets prepared for the 2007–08 campaign with two pre-season friendly matches in August. The first friendly was away to the Exeter Chiefs on 18 August 2007, and gave the Scarlets an opportunity to give debuts to their three new front row players, James Hayter, Bruce Douglas and Ben Broster. Exeter had a pair of ex-Scarlets in their team, in the form of Clive Stuart-Smith and Craig Dunlea, but their knowledge of the Scarlets was not enough to prevent a 19–14 win for the Llanelli side.
The next friendly was against Bath at Stradey Park on 25 August 2007. The Scarlets took a 14–7 lead before half-time, and went 17–7 up within the first five minutes of the second half. However, there were to be no further scores for the home side, as Bath scored two more tries to win the game 21–17.
| Date | Opponents | H / A | Result F–A | Scorers | Attendance |
| 18 August 2007 | Exeter Chiefs | A | 19–14 | Tries: Daniel, Bater, John Con: Priestland, C. Thomas | |
| 25 August 2007 | Bath | H | 17–21 | Tries: Daniel 2' c, King 32' c Con: C. Thomas (2) Pen: C. Thomas 44' | |

## Celtic League

| Date | Opponents | H / A | Result F–A | Scorers | Attendance | League position |
| 1 September 2007 | Newport Gwent Dragons | H | 23–30 | Tries: Gar. Evans 44' c, I. Thomas 50' c Con: C. Thomas (2) Pen: C. Thomas (3) 20', 55', 65' | 5,923 | 4th |
| 11 September 2007 | Ospreys | A | 14–9 | Try: Eustace 45' m Pen: C. Thomas (3) 2', 64', 74' | 10,143 | 2nd |
| 22 September 2007 | Munster | A | 16–26 | Try: Watkins 64' c Con: Priestland Pen: Priestland (3) 8', 35', 63' | 3,400 | 2nd |
| 28 September 2007 | Connacht | H | 34–11 | Tries: King 36' c, Cooper 55' c, Stoddart 62' c, J. Davies 80+1' c Con: Priestland (4) Pen: Priestland (2) 27', 33' | 6,560 | 2nd |
| 5 October 2007 | Leinster | A | 52–23 | Tries: Watkins 3' c, Bater 49' c, Edwards (2) 53' m, 59' c, King 56' c, Stoddart 80' c Con: Priestland (5) Pen: Priestland (4) 13', 22', 32', 51' | 9,439 | 2nd |
| 12 October 2007 | Ulster | H | 32–8 | Tries: Watkins 22' c, Edwards 35' m, Manu 40' c, M. Jones 51' c Con: Priestland (3) Pen: Priestland (2) 18', 72' | 6,200 | 2nd |
| 25 November 2007 | Edinburgh | A | 17–27 | Tries: King (3) 15' m, 38' c, 49' m Con: Priestland | 1,638 | 2nd |
| 27 December 2007 | Ospreys | H | 17–12 | Tries: G. Thomas 16' c, Brew 49' c Con: S. Jones (2) Pen: S. Jones 48' | 10,739 | 4th |
| 1 January 2008 | Newport Gwent Dragons | A | 13–15 | Try: Penalty try 33' c Con: Priestland Pen: Priestland (2) 6', 58' | 6,702 | 3rd |
| 4 January 2008 | Connacht | A | 18–20 | Pen: Priestland (6) 14', 22', 49', 67', 73', 80' | 1,681 | 4th |
| 15 February 2008 | Glasgow Warriors | H | 30–7 | Tries: Cattle 24' c, King 36' m, 76' m, Priestland 50' m, I. Thomas 61' m Con: Priestland Pen: Priestland 13' | 6,190 | 2nd |
| 29 February 2008 | Ulster | A | 8–20 | Try: Priestland 64' m Pen: Priestland 39' | 8,869 | 2nd |
| 21 March 2008 | Cardiff Blues | H | 35–17 | Tries: I. Thomas 11' m, Gav. Evans 21' c, Peel 57' c, James 73' c Con: S. Jones (3) Pen: S. Jones (3) 38', 54', 71' | 8,445 | 2nd |
| 29 March 2008 | Leinster | H | 10–24 | Try: D. Jones 52' c Con: S. Jones Pen: S. Jones 16' | 7,407 | 4th |
| 11 April 2008 | Cardiff Blues | A | 26–35 | Tries: Peel 4' c, J. Davies 6' c, M. Jones 52' m, Stoddart 54' c Con: S. Jones (3) | 10,216 | 4th |
| 18 April 2008 | Glasgow Warriors | A | 23–25 | Tries: Stoddart (2) 42' c, 53' c Con: S. Jones (2) Pen: S. Jones (3) 11', 33', 61' | 2,012 | 5th |
| 3 May 2008 | Munster | H | 23–24 | Tries: James 28' c, Watkins 31' c Con: S. Jones (2) Pen: S. Jones (3) 6', 23', 57' | 7,020 | 6th |
| 10 May 2008 | Edinburgh | H | 12–29 | Tries: Schwalger 14' c, James 77' m Con: Priestland | 7,338 | 6th |
| Pos | Club | Pld | W | D | L | F | A | PD | BP | Pts |
| 5 | Glasgow Warriors | 18 | 10 | 1 | 7 | 340 | 349 | −9 | 4 | 46 |
| 6 | Llanelli Scarlets | 18 | 7 | 0 | 11 | 403 | 362 | +41 | 11 | 39 |
| 7 | Ospreys | 18 | 6 | 1 | 11 | 321 | 255 | +66 | 11 | 37 |
Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Points for; A = Points against; PD = Points difference; BP = Bonus points; Pts = Points

## EDF Energy Cup

| Date | Opponents | H / A | Result F–A | Scorers | Attendance | Group position |
| 26 October 2007 | Bristol | A | 11–18 | Try: Stoddart 80+1' m Pen: Priestland 4', S. Jones 43' | 7,139 | 3rd |
| 2 November 2007 | Leeds Carnegie | H | 59–19 | Tries: D. Evans (2) 3' c, 67' c, Bater 10' c, M. Jones 16' c, Popham 38' c I. Thomas 51' c, MacLeod 59' c, Easterby 64' c Con: S. Jones (8) Pen: S. Jones 26' | 7,672 | 2nd |
| 1 December 2007 | Saracens | H | 36–32 | Tries: MacLeod 35' c, S. Jones 43' c, J. Davies 51' m, Gar. Evans 55' m Con: S. Jones (2) Pen: S. Jones (4) 10', 16', 40', 62' | 6,625 | 2nd |
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | F | A | BP | Pts |
| Saracens | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 123 | 79 | 4 | 12 |
| Llanelli Scarlets | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 106 | 69 | 3 | 11 |
| Bristol | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 46 | 69 | 0 | 6 |
| Leeds Carnegie | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 60 | 118 | 1 | 3 |

## Heineken Cup

| Date | Opponents | H / A | Result F–A | Scorers | Attendance | Group position |
| 11 November 2007 | ASM Clermont Auvergne | A | 21–48 | Tries: James 18' c, Peel 52' c, King 54' c Con: S. Jones (3) | 13,000 | 4th |
| 17 November 2007 | London Wasps | H | 17–33 | Tries: Easterby 24' c, M. Jones 79' c Con: S. Jones (2) Pen: S. Jones 34' | 9,557 | 4th |
| 8 December 2007 | Munster | H | 16–29 | Try: King 24' c Con: Priestland Pen: Priestland (3) 20', 51', 59' | 10,456 | 4th |
| 16 December 2007 | Munster | A | 13–22 | Try: S. Jones 11' c Con: S. Jones Pen: S. Jones (2) 49', 63' | 13,200 | 4th |
| 13 January 2008 | London Wasps | A | 7–40 | Try: Manu 33' c Con: Priestland | 8,173 | 4th |
| 19 January 2008 | ASM Clermont Auvergne | H | 0–41 | | 6,491 | 4th |
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | TF | PF | PA | PD | BP | Pts |
| Munster (6) | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 13 | 148 | 95 | +53 | 3 | 19 |
| Clermont | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 22 | 189 | 128 | +61 | 3 | 19 |
| London Wasps | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 19 | 152 | 127 | +25 | 2 | 18 |
| Llanelli Scarlets | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 8 | 74 | 213 | −139 | 0 | 0 |

## Squad statistics

| Pos. | Name | Magners League | Magners League | Magners League | Magners League | Magners League | Magners League | EDF Energy Cup | EDF Energy Cup | EDF Energy Cup | EDF Energy Cup | EDF Energy Cup | EDF Energy Cup | Heineken Cup | Heineken Cup | Heineken Cup | Heineken Cup | Heineken Cup | Heineken Cup | Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | Discipline | Discipline |
| Pos. | Name | A | T | C | P | D | Pts | A | T | C | P | D | Pts | A | T | C | P | D | Pts | A | T | C | P | D | Pts | | |
| FB | Garan Evans | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| FB | Morgan Stoddart | 16 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 1 | 0 |
| WG | Nathan Brew | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| WG | Darren Daniel | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| WG | Dan Evans | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| WG | Dafydd James | 9 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 0 | 0 |
| WG | Mark Jones | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 14 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 2 | 0 |
| CE | Jonathan Davies | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 0 |
| CE | Gavin Evans | 14 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| CE | Regan King | 16 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 35 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 23 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 45 | 0 | 0 |
| CE | Matthew Watkins | 13 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 0 | 0 |
| FH | Stephen Jones | 6 | 0 | 13 | 11 | 0 | 59 | 3 | 1 | 10 | 6 | 0 | 43 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 26 | 12 | 2 | 29 | 20 | 0 | 128 | 0 | 0 |
| FH | Rhys Priestland | 13 | 2 | 17 | 21 | 0 | 107 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 13 | 17 | 2 | 19 | 25 | 0 | 123 | 0 | 0 |
| FH | Ceiron Thomas | 9 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 22 | 0 | 0 |
| SH | Gavin Cattle | 14 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| SH | Liam Davies | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| SH | Dwayne Peel | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 13 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 0 |
| PR | Ben Broster | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| PR | Bruce Douglas | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| PR | Phil John | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| PR | Deacon Manu | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 21 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 1 | 0 |
| PR | Iestyn Thomas | 15 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 1 | 0 |
| HK | Daniel George | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| HK | James Hayter | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| HK | Ken Owens | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| HK | Matthew Rees | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| HK | Mahonri Schwalger | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| LK | Vernon Cooper | 14 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| LK | Dominic Day | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| LK | Adam Eustace | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| LK | Scott MacLeod | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| LK | Lou Reed | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| FL | James Bater | 15 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 2 | 0 |
| FL | Simon Easterby | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 17 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 1 | 0 |
| FL | Johnathan Edwards | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 0 |
| FL | Dafydd Jones | 16 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| FL | Gavin Thomas | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| FL | Josh Turnbull | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| N8 | Alix Popham | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 0 |
| N8 | Nathan Thomas | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

## Transfers
### In

| Date | Pos. | Name | From |
| 17 May 2007 | PR | Ben Broster | Saracens |
| 1 June 2007 | WG | Nathan Brew | Newport Gwent Dragons |
| 1 June 2007 | LK | Adam Eustace | Gloucester |
| 19 June 2007 | PR | Bruce Douglas | Border Reivers |
| 20 July 2007 | HK | James Hayter | Harlequins |
| 16 January 2008 | HK | Mahonri Schwalger | Wellington Lions |

### Out

| Date | Pos. | Name | To |
| 1 June 2007 | SH | Clive Stuart-Smith | Exeter Chiefs |
| 1 June 2007 | PR | John Davies | Retired |
| 4 June 2007 | PR | Craig Dunlea | Exeter Chiefs |
| 5 June 2007 | PR | Hugh Gustafson | Newport Gwent Dragons |
| 14 June 2007 | FB | Barry Davies | Brive |
| 21 June 2007 | LK | Inoke Afeaki | Grenoble |
| 22 June 2007 | LK | Adam Jones | Newport Gwent Dragons |
| 27 July 2007 | FL | Jonathan Mills | London Welsh |
| 27 July 2007 | HK | Aled Gravelle | Waterloo |

### Loan out

| Date from | Date to | Position | Name | To |
| 18 December 2007 | 18 January 2008 | LK | Lou Reed | Rotherham |