The 2019–20 season was the 16th season in the history of the Scarlets, a Welsh regional rugby union side based in Llanelli, Carmarthenshire. They competed in the Pro14 and after failing to qualify for the Champions Cup the previous season for the first time in their history, participated in the Challenge Cup.
It was the team's first and only season under head coach Brad Mooar, who was assisted by defence coach Glenn Delaney and assistant attack coach Richard Whiffin, following Wayne Pivac's departure to leathe Wales national team. On 24 December 2019, it was announced that Mooar would leave the Scarlets at the end of the season to join the New Zealand All Blacks' coaching team.
On 12 March 2020, the season was indefinitely suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The regular season resumed on 22 August 2020, with the number of rounds reduced from 21 to 15; any postponed games were deemed 0-0 draws, with both teams awarded two points. Rounds 14 and 15 consisted of derbie matches for each Welsh region, with the top two teams in each conference advancing to the semi-final stage. Delaney took charge as head coach after Mooar's departure, leading the team in the games played in August and September 2020.
Pre-season and friendlies DateOpponentsH / AResultF–AScorersAttendance7 September 2019Jersey RedsA49–17Tries: James 2' c, M. Jones 26' c, Hughes 45' c, Prydie 53' c,Rawlins 65' c, O'Brien 72' c, Conbeer 75' c Conversions: D. Jones (2) 2', 26', O'Brien (5) 45', 53', 65', 72', 75'1,07714 September 2019DragonsA17–34Tries: D. Jones 54' m, Baldwin 68' c, Lewis 79' m Conversion: D. Jones 68'2,657
Pro14 Fixtures DateOpponentsH / AResultF–AScorersAttendanceTableposition28 September 2019ConnachtH18–10Tries: St. Evans 19' m, Asquith 34' cConversion: D. Jones 34'Penalties: D. Jones (2) 43', 59'6,4154th4 October 2019Glasgow WarriorsA25–21Tries: Hardy 45' c, Asquith 49' c, St. Evans 51' mConversions: D. Jones 45', O'Brien 50'Penalties: D. Jones (2) 23', 37'6,8971st12 October 2019ZebreH54–10Tries: Hardy (2) 1' c, 28' c, Macleod 7' m, Conbeer 21'c,T. Davies 42' c, McNicholl (2) 49' c, 80' c, Helps 72'Conversions: D. Jones (4) 2', 22', 29', 43',O'Brien (3) 49', 73', 80+1'6,4241st26 October 2019EdinburghA7–46Try: M. Jones 59' c Conversion: D. Jones 59'5,1914th2 November 2019CheetahsH17–13Tries: St. Evans 21' c, Hardy 36' cConversions: D. Jones (2) 22', 38'Penalty: D. Jones 68'6,3811st9 November 2019BenettonH20–17Tries: St. Evans 5' c, R. Evans 53' c Conversions: D. Jones (2) 7', 54'Penalties D. Jones (2) 28', 80+1'6,3832nd29 November 2019UlsterA5–29Try: Morgan 74' m12,3194th21 December 2019DragonsA20–22Tries: G. Davies 24' c, Owens 29' cConversions: Halfpenny (2) 25', 30'Penalties: Halfpenny (2) 3', 75'5,5174th26 December 2019OspreysH44–0Tries: St. Evans (2) 24' c, 59' m, Conbeer (2) 38' c, 53' m,Hardy 63' c, Macleod 72' cConversions: Halfpenny (3) 25', 40', 64', O'Brien 73'Penalties: Halfpenny (2) 17', 30'13,6822nd3 January 2020Cardiff BluesA16–14Try: G. Davies 27' cConversion: Halfpenny 28'Penalties: Halfpenny (3) 7', 11', 40'12,1251st15 February 2020EdinburghH9–14Penalties: D. Jones (3) 10', 35', 47'5,6393rd23 February 2020Southern KingsH36–17Tries: Ratuva 19' c, Kennedy 33' m, Conbeer 51' c,Cassiem 61' c, D. Davis 68' m, Rogers 71'mConversions: D. Jones (3) 20', 52', 62'5,9653rd29 February 2020MunsterA10–29Try: Sebastian 60' cConversion: D. Jones 61'Penalty: D. Jones 7'13,5543rd20 March 2020ConnachtAP–P28 March 2020DragonsHP–P11 April 2020Southern KingsAP–P18 April 2020Cardiff BluesHP–P24 April 2020BenettonAP–P9 May 2020LeinsterHP–P16 May 2020MunsterHP–P30 May 2020OspreysAP–P22 August 2020Cardiff BluesH32–12Tries: Kennedy 4' m, St. Evans (2) 22' c, 42' m,Lousi 48' c, McNicholl 55' mConversions: Halfpenny (2) 23', 50'Penalties: Halfpenny 32'03rd29 August 2020DragonsA41–20Tries: Lee 18' c, St. Evans 26' c, Ja. Davies 31' m,McNicholl 55' c, Rogers 66' m, Blacker 70' cConversions: D. Jones (4) 19', 27', 56', 71'Penalty: D. Jones 60'03rd
Table Conference B PosTeamPldWDLFAPDBPPts2 Munster151005426255+17111513 Scarlets151005354274+807474 Connacht15807302360−58840
Rugby Challenge Cup Pool stage Fixtures DateOpponentsH / AResultF–AScorersAttendanceTableposition16 November 2019London IrishH20–16Tries: Baldwin 28' c, S. Hughes 51' cConversions: D. Jones (2) 30', 52'Penalties: D. Jones (2) 14', 40+1'6,7532nd22 November 2019ToulonA16–17Try: McNicholl 14' cConversion: Lamb 15'Penalties: Lamb 47', D. Jones 67'Drop Goal: D. Jones 69'10,2123rd7 December 2019BayonneA19–11Try: R. Evans 28' cConversion: Halfpenny 29'Penalties: Halfpenny (4) 11', 40+1', 50', 56'5,9572nd14 December 2019BayonneH46–5Tries: Conbeer 5' m, Elias 47' c, Hardy (2) 50' c, 68' c,O'Brien 56' c, Halfpenny 74' cConversions: Halfpenny (5) 49', 51', 57', 69', 75'Penalties: Halfpenny (2) 16', 22'6,2572nd11 January 2020ToulonH15–27Tries: G. Davies 1' m, St. Evans 73' c Conversions: Halfpenny 74' Penalties: Halfpenny 10'7,5652nd18 January 2020London IrishA33–14Tries: Baldwin 21' c, D. Jones 28' c, Hardy 36' c,Penalty Try 46', St. Evans 57' mConversions: Halfpenny (3) 22', 29', 37'3,4442nd
Table PosTeamPldWDLFAPDBPPts1 Toulon660017787+904282 Scarlets640214990+593193 Bayonne610593190−97374 London Irish6105122174−5237
Knockout stage DateRoundOpponentsH / AResultF–AScorersAttendance19 September 2020Quarter-finalToulonA6–11Penalties: Halfpenny (2) 3', 29'5,000
Statistics (+ in the Apps column denotes substitute appearance, positions listed are the ones they have started a game in during the season) Pos.NamePro 14European Challenge CupTotalDisciplineAppsTryConPenDropPtsAppsTryConPenDropPtsAppsTryConPenDropPtsFB Leigh Halfpenny40890405110905291181809200FB/WG Johnny McNicholl94000205100051450002500WG/FB Steffan Evans16900045720001023110005500WG Ryan Conbeer7+34000201100058+350002500WG Corey Baldwin4+5000004+12000108+620001000WG Tom James20000000000020000000WG Morgan Williams1000000+2000001+20000000WG Tom Rogers0+22000100000000+220001000CE Steffan Hughes1500000710005221000500CE Paul Asquith7+52000101+3000008+820001000CE Ioan Nicholas10000000000010000000CE Kieron Fonotia3+2000002000005+20000000CE Hadleigh Parkes30000020000050000000CE Johnny Williams20000010000030000000CE Tyler Morgan0000000+1000000+10000000FH/FB Angus O'Brien6+50500102+3100058+815001500FH Dan Jones13019120744+312312117+31211519500FH Ryan Lamb0+3000001+2011051+50110500SH Kieran Hardy10+45000253+430001513+880004000SH Dane Blacker0+7100051+2000001+91000500SH Jonathan Evans1+3000000+1000001+40000000SH Gareth Davies4200010310005720001500N8 Sione Kalamafoni10000010000020000000N8/FL Uzair Cassiem12+2100055+10000017+31000510N8/FL Blade Thomson3+1000004000007+10000000FL Josh Macleod14+120001060000020+120001000FL Tom Phillips40000000000040000000FL Dan Davis0+7100050000000+71000500FL Ed Kennedy52000100+1000005+120001000LK/FL Jac Morgan1+1100051+2000002+31000500FL Aaron Shingler50000030000080000000FL James Davies1+1100050+1000001+21000500LK/FL Lewis Rawlins10+2000002+20000012+40000010LK Steve Cummins6+3000001+1000007+40000000LK Josh Helps0+5100050+2000000+71000500LK Juandre Kruger2+1000001000003+10000000LK Tevita Ratuva2+4100053+1000005+51000511LK Sam Lousi6100054+10000010+11000501LK Jake Ball4+1000004000008+10000010LK Danny Drake0000000+1000000+10000000HK Marc Jones3+4100050+4000003+81000500HK Taylor Davies6+3100051000007+31000500HK Ryan Elias2+4000004+2100056+51000500HK Ken Owens4+1100052+1000006+21000500HK Ifan Phillips0+2000000000000+20000000PR Samson Lee11100054+10000015+11000500PR Rob Evans4+3100052+3100056+620001000PR Phil Price6+10000001+3000007+130000000PR Werner Kruger4+8000002+3000006+110000010PR Dylan Evans0+3000000+1000000+40000000PR Javan Sebastian0+6100051+3000001+91000500PR Wyn Jones50000040000090000010
Stats correct as of 19 September 2020
Transfers
In Date confirmedPos.NameFromRef.2 April 2019LK Sam Lousi Hurricanes20 June 2019SH Dane BlackerCardiff BluesLK Danny Drake North HarbourPR Alex JeffriesOspreys2 July 2019WG Tom JamesCardiff Blues20 September 2019LK Juandré Kruger ToulonFH Ryan Lamb La Rochelle17 February 2020HK Ifan PhillipsOspreys (loan)25 February 2020FB Liam Williams Saracens20 May 2020CE Tyler MorganDragons14 July 2020N8 Sione Kalamafoni Leicester TigersCE Johnny Williams Newcastle Falcons25 August 2020SH Will Homer Jersey Reds
Out Date confirmedPos.NameToRef.14 March 2019PR Scott Jenkins Bedford Blues24 March 2019LK Tom Price Exeter Chiefs12 April 2019SH Declan SmithReleased20 May 2019FL Will BoydeCardiff Blues16 June 2019LK David Bulbring Kubota Spears21 June 2019SH Sam Hidalgo-Clyne Racing 923 July 2019PR Nicky Thomas Bristol Bears9 July 2019FB Clayton Blommetjies Free State Cheetahs29 November 2019LK Juandré Kruger Bulls10 December 2019PR Rhys FawcettOspreys (loan) Simon Gardiner30 January 2020FB Tomi Lewis Ampthill (loan)2 March 2020CE Corey Baldwin Exeter Chiefs12 May 2020WG Tom JamesRetired13 May 2020PR Rhys FawcettReleased Simon GardinerFB Morgan WilliamsCE Kieron Fonotia TasmanSH Jonathan EvansRetiredCE Hadleigh Parkes Panasonic Wild Knights19 August 2020LK Danny Drake Gloucester Rugby (loan)21 August 2020PR Dylan Evans Glasgow Warriors (loan)27 August 2020SR Steve Cummins Section Paloise
Notes
References