Wales international back-rower Josh Macleod leads a powerful Scarlets line-up into the pre-season clash with Dragons RFC at Rodney Parade on Saturday (3pm).
Ahead of the BKT United Rugby Championship opener against Munster on September 27, head coach Dwayne Peel has named a strong selection, including a number of players who toured Japan with Wales this summer.
Those include Macleod himself, Blair Murray, Macs Page, Sam Costelow, Taine Plumtree and Joe Roberts.
There is also a first sight back in Scarlet of second row Jake Ball, who returned to the club this summer.
Murray lines up at full-back with Jac Davies – impressive in Llandovery last weekend – and Ellis Mee on the wings.
Page partners Joe Hawkins in midfield, while Costelow and Gareth Davies provide a familiar half-back pairing.
Up front Alec Hepburn, who added to his Scotland cap tally this summer, packs down in the front row alongside hooker Harry Thomas and tight-head Harri O’Connor.
Lousi links up with Ball in the second row, while Jarrod Taylor joins Plumtree and Macleod in the back row.
The bench includes 18-year-old back-rower Osian Williams and new signing from Gloucester, full-back Ioan Jones.
Scarlets team to face Dragons RFC at Rodney Parade on Saturday, September 13 (3pm)
15 Blair Murray; 14 Jac Davies, 13 Macs Page, 12 Joe Hawkins, 11 Ellis Mee; 10 Sam Costelow, 9 Gareth Davies; 1 Alec Hepburn, 2 Harry Thomas, 3 Harri O’Connor, 4 Sam Lousi, 5 Jake Ball, 6 Jarrod Taylor, 7 Josh Macleod (capt), 8 Taine Plumtree.
Reps: Kemsley Mathias, Isaac Young, Gabe Hawley, Jac Price, Tristan Davies, Osian Williams, Dan Davis, Dane Blacker, Archie Hughes, Gabe McDonald, Joe Roberts, Ioan Nicholas, Tomi Lewis, Ioan Jones.
Tickets for the URC clash with Munster on Saturday, September 27 can be bought HERE
Don’t forget you can fill in the WRU consultation if you want to save the Scarlets, you can fill in the consultation here https://www.scarlets.wales/article/scarlets-launch-open-book-to-support-wru-consultation/
