News

Scarlets look to the youth

July 15 2009

Simon Easterby, now a player/forwards coach at the Scarlets, is excited at the number of young players swelling the team's ranks.

The Scarlets have struggled financially over the past couple of seasons, with Heineken Cup and domestic disappointment, and the recession, coming just as they needed to cash in on the move to the new Parc y Scarlets stadium.

The two big-name off-season signings have been Welsh international prospect Rhys Thomas and Scottish wing Sean Lamont. Otherwise, the region has looked to local and internal sources, with Welsh U20 scrum-half Tavis Knoyle the pick of the other signings.

"We haven't gone after the big overseas signings we have in the past and that's maybe not a bad thing," said Easterby to the BBC.

"We have made big-money signings in the past and they haven't always come off while players without reputations have come here and done particularly well.

"We're realistic about our chances, we've got to be comfortable with that, go with youth and make sure we follow through with everything we do.

"I think youth policy is going to come to the fore."

Youngsters like Daniel Evans, Jonathan Davies and Josh Turnbull are expected to have benefitted from their experience on the Wales tour of North America while the senior players were away with the Lions.

there have been a host of young players who were given chances and experience last season as injuries cursed the West Walians as well, but many stood up to be counted - like lock Aaron Shingler.

"We finished last season with 12 or 13 players under 23 in the final XV [Magners League fixture] against Ulster and that's great for the future," continued Easterby.

"We've obviously got to be realistic about our chances in all competitions, but we're confident that if we keep a clean bill of health we'll go well."

Easterby's new role came 'out of the blue', with the captaincy handed to international wing Mark Jones. The Irishman has cut his coaching teeth with the region's U20 side and is hoping to impress the experience he has picked up under other coaches upon his players.

"It's come about a bit unexpectedly but I'm looking forward to combining my roles," said Easterby.

"I took some coaching badges last year, I linked up with the Scarlets Under-20s and I've picked up a lot of things along the way.

"I'm not young any more and I've had a lot of experienced coaches."