The Scarlets begin their 2017/18 season this Saturday, September 2 as they welcome newcomers Southern Kings to Parc Y Scarlets in the new Guinness Pro14.
The match kicks off at 17:30 pm and will be shown live on Sky Sports.
Wales and Lions international Leigh Halfpenny starts at full-back in his first match for the home side since joining them from French outfit Toulon on a National Dual Contract last month. However they will be missing fellow British and Irish Lions Jonathan Davies and team captain Ken Owens.
Scotland back-rower John Barclay will captain the Scarlets side in Owens absence. Barclay will continue as captain after lifting the Pro12 trophy last season in the Aviva Stadium, Dublin by defeating Munster 46 – 22 in the final.
For the opposition, hooker Michael Willemse will wear the captains armband in their first ever Pro14 fixture. The Kings who are based in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, joined the newly expanded competition along with Toyota Cheetahs in the summer.
Teams:
| SCARLETS | SOUTHERN KINGS | ||
| 15. | Leigh Halfpenny | 15. | Masixole Banda |
| 14. | Johnny McNicholl | 14. | Yaw Penxe |
| 13. | Hadleigh Parkes | 13. | Berton Klaasen |
| 12. | Scott Williams | 12. | Luzuko Vulindlu |
| 11. | Steff Evans | 11. | Sibusiso Sithole |
| 10. | Rhys Patchell | 10. | Kurt Coleman |
| 9. | Gareth Davies | 9. | Rudi van Rooyen |
| 1. | Rob Evans | 1. | Schalk Ferreira |
| 2. | Ryan Elias | 2. | Michael Willemse (C) |
| 3. | Samson Lee | 3. | Rossouw de Klerk |
| 4. | Jake Ball | 4. | Jurie van Vuuren |
| 5. | Tadhg Beirne | 5. | Dries van Schalkwyk |
| 6. | Aaron Shingler | 6. | Khaya Majola |
| 7. | James Davies | 7. | Victor Sekekete |
| 8. | John Barclay (C) | 8. | Andisa Ntsila |
| Replacements | |||
| 16. | Emyr Phillips | 16. | Stephan Coetzee |
| 17. | Dylan Jones | 17. | Luvuyo Pupuma |
| 18. | Werner Kruger | 18. | Entienne Swanepoel |
| 19. | David Bulbring | 19. | Bobby de Wee |
| 20. | Wil Boyde | 20. | Siyabulela Mdaka |
| 21. | Jonathan Evans | 21. | Godlen Masimla |
| 22. | Rhys Jones | 22. | Ntabeni Dukisa |
| 23. | Paul Asquith | 23. | Jacques Nel |
