Save Our Scarlets march set to bring thousands onto Llanelliâs streets today
The Save Our Scarlets march begins at 1pm from Sandy Water Park, with fans walking the historic route past the old Stradey Park rugby posts and through the town centre before finishing at Parc y Scarlets ahead of the clubâs opening United Rugby Championship fixture against Munster.
The demonstration comes at the end of the WRUâs consultation on the future of the game in Wales, which has sparked widespread fears for the Scarletsâ survival.
âThe thought of losing the Scarlets is unthinkableâ
Organiser Andrew Gough, originally from Aberystwyth, said he has âScarlets feverâ:
âThe thought of losing the Scarlets is unthinkable. Being from Aberystwyth originally, I know first hand that the Scarlets are the heartbeat in the communities of the whole of west Wales, a huge part of our regionâs identity. For example, weâre the only club where you hear Welsh songs being proudly sung in the stands. The Scarlets is one of the few remaining institutions left in Llanelli, they are the pride of the town. They attract thousands of visitors every year, playing a vital role in supporting the local economy.â
He added that todayâs march would be âa massive day for the clubâ, with Scarlets legend Rupert Moon opening proceedings, choirs leading supporters in song, and former players joining fans along the route.
Supporters are being urged to wear Scarlets colours, bring flags and banners, and join the march at any of the staging points along the way â including Boots in the town centre, Farmfoods on Swansea Road, and the Halfway on Glyncoed Terrace.
Organisers call for unity
Fellow organiser Helen Davies said:
âThis 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.â
Catherine Davies added:
âRugby means more to the fans than raw data, which is something that I donât think the WRU have understood in their consultation. After all, what is the point of sport without fans?â
Political backing
The campaign has drawn support across the political spectrum.
Plaid Cymru representatives Cefin Campbell MS, Ann Davies MP and Adam Price MS issued a joint statement declaring their âfundamental oppositionâ to any plan that risks the dissolution of the Scarlets. They warned that losing professional rugby in west Wales would be âdisastrousâ for the regionâs economy, identity and grassroots pathways.
Meanwhile, Llanelliâs Labour MP Dame Nia Griffith has also spoken out, insisting that Parc y Scarlets must remain central to Welsh rugbyâs future. She described the stadium as âthe best regional rugby stadium in Walesâ, highlighting its facilities, transport links and role in developing youth and womenâs rugby. Griffith argued that keeping a strong regional presence west of the Loughor bridge is âessentialâ if the production line of talent and community pathways is to survive.
Together, the interventions underline the breadth of political opposition to any WRU plan that could see the Scarlets disappear.
Matchday buildâup
The march will culminate at Parc y Scarlets ahead of the Scarletsâ first home game of the season against Munster. The club has confirmed a full programme of preâmatch activities, including live music, family entertainment and community events details on the Scarlets website.
Travel advice
Drivers are advised to expect disruption along the march route and to plan journeys accordingly.
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