Cefin Campbell, Plaid Cymru Member of the Senedd, and Ann Davies, Plaid Cymru Member of Parliament, who represent Carmarthenshire and Llanelli, have encouraged local people and supporters to sign a petition calling on the Welsh Rugby Union to protect the future of the Scarlets in any plans they may have for the future of rugby in Wales.
This comes during the first week of the Union’s consultation period on the restructuring of Wales' professional rugby regions, with a favoured option to cut the number of clubs to two, from the current four.
The petition, titled "Urge the Welsh Rugby Union to support the Scarlets’ survival in West Wales", has now collected over 4,500 signatures.
Encouraging people to sign it, Mr. Campbell MS and Mrs. Davies MP, 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 - from Phil Bennett, Delme Thomas and Ray Gravell, to Stephen Jones and Ken Owens, to name but a few.
"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.
“We will be contributing to the formal consultation process as I hope thousands of others will as well, in order to send a clear message to the WRU that dissolution the Scarlets is not the solution to the mismanagement of professional rugby in Wales over many years.”