With just four wins and a 14th place finish last season, there is plenty of room for improvement for Dwayne Peel’s men.
This season will mark a decade since Wayne Pivac led the Scarlets to a famous championship victory, the last Welsh side to lift the trophy. Dwayne Peele’s 2026 vintage is unlikely to follow in the footsteps of their predecessors, but a return to the play-offs would feel like an achievement after last season’s disappointing 14th place finish. It would certainly lift the region with the future of the Scarlets still hanging in the balance as the WRU continue to restructure the Welsh game.
We’ll review each one URC and Gallagher PREM before the 2026-27 season kicks off on Friday 25 September. Keep coming back The world of rugby each day for our verdicts on each team.
Scarlets discussion points
Last season was a desperate one for the Scarlets who reached the play-offs last year. They won just four games, prompting widespread praise from now-permanent director of rugby Nigel Davies, brought in to work with head coach Dwayne Peel.
Two of Scarlets’ best players have now moved on; Marnus van der Merwe, who finished in the top ten for turnovers won, and stealer Max Douglas went to Munster and Japan respectively.
However, the Scarlets have been busy in the transfer market as well as keeping hold of key players such as Josh Macleod and Sam Lousi. Cullen Grace heads the list of arrivals, with the former All Black number 8 arriving after the NPC in New Zealand. Veteran Gareth Anscombe, 35, also joins to provide competition for Wales playmaker Sam Costelow.
There is a clear emphasis on adding height to the pack, with 6ft 9in Alex Groves and 6ft 6in Tom Allen joining from the Stormers and Hurricanes.
A key player
Cullen Grace will find a familiar face in Fletcher Anderson, who made a huge impact after joining the Scarlets last season – the New Zealand back-row was named the Supporter’s and Player’s Player of the Season after finishing in the top five in the URC for carries, defenders tackled and tackles made.
Ryan Eliasafter one of his better seasons and a recall from the Wales squad during the Six Nations, he will also be influential.
Macs Page should be one to watch in the Scarlets backline (Malcolm Mackenzie/Getty Images)
One to watch
Macs Page toured with Wales last summer and has impressed in recent years for Wales U20s. Still only 21 and with a natural line-breaking ability, the Scarlets used him either in midfield or outfield.
Trainer box
There has been a backroom reshuffle to help Peel, with Aaron Dundon arriving from Leinster to coach the forwards and Eamon O’Carroll set to take over the defense when he joins from St Helens at the end of the Super League season.
Scarlets Prediction 2026-27
If Davies can bring stability and the pack can make strides, the Scarlets can start to climb the table. Making the play-offs, however, seems like a stretch.
Scarlets 2026-27 quotas
150-1
Vital statistics
The Scarlets conceded the most penalties (215) and received the most yellow cards (18) of any URC team last season.
Experienced fly fisherman Gareth Anscombe returns to Wales after a spell in Bayonne (Valentine CHAPUIS / AFP via Getty Images)
Scarlets signings
- Gareth Anscombe (Bayonne)
- Corey Domachowski (Cardiff)
- Harvey Cuckson (Bath)
- John McKee (Leinster)
- George Roberts (Dragons)
- Alex Groves (Stormers)
- Isaac Murray-MacGregor (Canterbury)
- Cullen Grace (Crusaders)
- Tom Allen (Hurricanes)
Scarlets ddepartures
- Marnus van der Merwe (Munster)
- Tom Rogers (Ospreys)
- Alec Hepburn (Edinburgh)
- Jake Ball (retired)
- Max Douglas (Shizuoka Blue Revs)
- Jarrod Taylor (Ealing Trailfinders)
- Gemini Day (published)
- Rhodri Lewis (released)
- Steff Jac Jones (published)
- Tom Phillips (published)
Download the digital edition of Rugby World directly to your tablet or subscribe to the print edition to have the magazine delivered to your door.
