The march will be starting at 1.00pm from Sandy Water Park in Llanelli, and will be starting with a personal message from Llanelli and Scarlets’ legendary scrum half, Rupert Moon.
From there, the march will proceed through the town centre, continuing past Farmfoods, towards Halfway and ending at Parc y Scarlets.
The march has been organised against the backdrop of the Welsh Rugby Union’s consultation of the future of the game in Wales, with each of Wales’ four regions facing an existential threat.
What the WRU are doing
The Welsh Rugby Union has put forward a sweeping “future of elite rugby” consultation that could reduce the current four professional regions—Cardiff, Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets—to just two, in an effort to consolidate talent, strengthen competitiveness and resolve financial pressures.
Under the WRU’s “optimal” model, the two new entities would each field men’s and women’s squads of predominantly Welsh-qualified players, with substantially increased budgets, and operate under a licence system, potentially centred around a national performance campus.
The WRU acknowledges that the proposals are controversial and emotionally charged; its leaders recognise that fans will feel “hurt and anger,” while insisting that the current model “is no longer delivering” sustainably in terms of results and finances. While no final decisions have been made, a formal consultation period is underway, with a WRU board decision expected by October 2025.
Support from all corners
One of the march organisers, Helen Davies, said:
“This is a fantastic opportunity for Scarlets fans to come and show how much the club means to them, and we are expecting a large number of people to attend from across the region as a whole, not just Llanelli. The message has been for fans to wear their colours, bring their flags and banners, and to turn up in our numbers to show the WRU what this wonderful club means to us.”
Another of the march organisers, Andrew Gough, said:
“Of the four regions, the Scarlets are the only one which has Welsh culture and language in the forefront of its identity, from the number of Welsh-speaking fans to the number of Welsh language songs heard on the terraces on matchdays. It is vitally important that this is protected in the future of Welsh rugby.
“This Saturday is going to be a massive day for the club. One of the all-time Scarlet greats, Rupert Moon will open the march with a few words, choirs will be there to lift our voices and former players will walk alongside us. We will be standing united as Scarlets to send a clear message to the WRU to show just how much this club means to us. People do not have walk the whole route from Sandy Water Park to Parc y Scarlets and can join the march at Boots in the town centre, Farmfoods on Swansea Road, the Halfway on Glyncoed Terrace and the final approach to the stadium. We’re asking all supporters to wear their Scarlets colours with pride, and bring their flags, banners and placards as well as their passionate voices. People’s support is absolutely crucial, now more than ever.”
Another of the march organisers, Catherine Davies, said:
“Rugby means more to the fans than raw data, which is something that I don’t think the WRU have understood in their consultation. After all, what is the point of sport without fans? Hopefully, the WRU will see the response from the supporters and start to understand how much the clubs and identities mean to the people and their communities.”
Ann Davies, the Plaid Cymru MP for Caerfyrddin, has publicly backed a petition demanding that the WRU protect the future of the Scarlets, calling any attempt to dissolve the club “disastrous” for Llanelli, the wider region, and Welsh rugby as a whole.
She has joined forces with Senedd Member Cefin Campbell and local leaders in urging constituents to sign the petition “Urge the Welsh Rugby Union to support the Scarlets’ survival in West Wales,” describing the club as central not only to local identity but also to the regional economy and sporting heritage. She said:
“Dissolving the Scarlets would be disastrous news not only for Llanelli, Carmarthenshire, and the wider region, but also on a national level — a team that has an unrivalled rugby pedigree and a brand admired by rugby followers across the world.
“A club that has produced legendary players, and away from the pitch, the team contributes so much to the local economy, identity and culture. If this was lost it would leave a massive gap to fill and would lead to disillusionment by ordinary fans of the sport. … As local elected members, I will stand with the area every step of the way in order to encourage the Welsh Rugby Union to listen to our concerns and disregard any plans they may have to dissolve the Scarlets as a rugby team.”
Nia Griffith MP
In a statement last month, Nia Griffith addressed the WRU’s plans:
“As the Welsh Rugby Union strives to find a constructive and sustainable way forward for regional rugby in Wales, one which strengthens and supports efforts to arrest the alarming slide of our national team, that is something I am certain about – now more than ever.
“We have now seen an overview of what the WRU considers to be its “optimal solution” on the number of Welsh regional teams. It seems certain it will be less than the current four. Whether it goes down to two or three still remains a matter of discussion.
“And, as part of that debate, we cannot shy away from the fact of what is at stake, not least here in Llanelli where rugby is so deeply embedded in our history and our local communities.
“That is why we must continue to put forward a confident, passionate and positive case to retain first class regional rugby at Parc Y Scarlets, recognising and embracing our pride in what has gone before but also emphasising the huge opportunities and potential for us to contribute to the rebirth of Welsh rugby moving forward.
“In Parc Y Scarlets, we already have the best regional rugby stadium in Wales both in terms of facilities and capacity. Its well-established hospitality and corporate event experience can also provide a secure underpinning to be used to attract new business and investment into our game – unrivalled by any other rugby venue in the area.
“Well connected to public transport and easily accessible, Parc Y Scarlets also has the added benefit over other regional grounds of having additional land around it that could be utilised for further rugby related development.
“The Scarlets already have an effective pathway for youth development and a clear commitment to widening participation in the game with a growing womens and girls rugby following too. The potential, therefore, to create a state of the art, regional centre of excellence for all formats of the game based around Parc Y Scarlets should be looked at closely.
“Located as a gateway to the whole of West Wales, traditionally and currently, the Scarlets provides a platform for a hotbed of playing talent as well as coaching expertise and they continue to unlock a rich stock of regional and international stalwarts. If that production line is to survive and thrive, then retaining a strong regional rugby presence west of the Loughor bridge will be essential.
“Scarlets are the only Welsh club in the Investec Champions Cup this season and will be welcoming English giants Bristol Bears and the Champions Cup trophy holders Bordeaux Begles to our town this coming season.
“Scarlets have been a flag-bearer for Welsh Rugby across the international club rugby landscape for so many years with a proud 150 year heritage.
“Rugby has long been central to life in Llanelli and West Wales but change is coming. How we react to it now is vital.
“However, I remain confident that the Scarlets and the town of Llanelli can continue to be at the forefront of Welsh and European rugby for many years to come.”
Drivers are advised that there will be disruption along the march route, and to plan their journeys carefully to avoid the march.
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