2022–23 Scarlets season

Scarlets
	2022–23 season
Head coach	Dwayne Peel
Chairman	Simon Muderack
United Rugby Championship	14th; (Welsh Shield: 3rd)
Challenge Cup	Semi-finals
Top try scorer	League: Ryan Conbeer; Steff Evans; 6 tries each; All: Steff Evans; 12 tries
Top points scorer	League: Sam Costelow; 102 points; All: Sam Costelow; 164 points
Highest home attendance	13,077 v Glasgow Warriors (Challenge Cup, 29 April 2023)
Lowest home attendance	4,345 v Zebre (URC, 15 October 2022)
Average home attendance	7,630
← 2021–22	2023–24 →

The 2022–23 season is the 19th season in the history of the Scarlets, a Welsh regional rugby union side based in Llanelli, Carmarthenshire. In this season, they are competing in the United Rugby Championship^[1] and the European Rugby Challenge Cup.

Friendlies

Date	Opponents	H / A	Result F–A	Scorers
2 September 2022	Bristol Bears	H	28–34	Tries: S. Williams 5' c, Fifita 25' c, Hughes 32' c, Lezana 55' c Conversions: D. Jones (4) 5', 25', 32', 55'
9 September 2022^[a]	Dragons	H
10 March 2023	Saracens	A	26–47	Tries: S. Thomas 9' c, Tuipulotu 13' c, Shenton 66' m, D. Jones 69' c Conversions: D. Jones (3) 10', 14', 70'

^ Match was cancelled following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.^[2]

United Rugby Championship

Fixtures

Date	Opponents	H / A	Result F–A	Scorers	Attendance	Table position
17 September 2022	Ospreys	H	23–23	Tries: J. Williams 53' c, Costelow 65' c Conversions: Costelow (2) 54', 65' Penalties: Costelow (3) 13', 42', 44'	9,582	8th
24 September 2022	Ulster	H	39–55	Tries: J. Davies 18' c, Conbeer 20' m, Fifita 41' c, Hughes (2) 53' c, 62' c Conversions: Costelow (3) 19', 42', 54', Patchell 63' Penalties: Costelow 24', Patchell 67'	6,171	14th
1 October 2022	Benetton	A	23–34	Tries: Kalamafoni 63' c, J. Williams 69' c Conversions: Patchell (2) 64', 69' Penalties: Halfpenny (3) 34', 39' 51'	3,456	15th
8 October 2022	Cardiff	H	10–16	Tries: McNicholl 71' c Conversions: Halfpenny 72' Penalties: Halfpenny 22'	7,180	15th
15 October 2022	Zebre	H	36–12	Tries: Costelow (2) 5' c, 42' c, Lousi 28' c, J. Davies 39' c, Conbeer 78' m Conversions: Halfpenny (4) 7', 29', 40', 43' Penalties: Halfpenny 72'	4,345	13th
21 October 2022	Connacht	A	14–36	Tries: St. Evans 14' m Penalties: Costelow (2) 4', 30', Patchell 58'	4,100	15th
29 October 2022	Leinster	H	5–35	Tries: St. Evans 20' m	6,823	15th
25 November 2022	Stormers	A	19–36	Tries: Conbeer (2) 31' c, 53' m, Rogers 49' c Conversions: D. Jones 32', Patchell 50'	12,543	15th
4 December 2022	Lions	A	15–32	Tries: Davis 32' m, Rogers 58' m, Lousi 82' m	4,010	15th
26 December 2022	Ospreys	A	14–34	Tries: Kalamafoni 30' c, McNicholl 48' c Conversions: Patchell (2) 31', 50'	11,480	15th
1 January 2023	Dragons	H	33–17	Tries: St. Evans 22' c, Blacker 58' c, McNicholl 81' c Conversions: Halfpenny (3) 23', 59', 83' Penalties: Halfpenny (4) 4', 11', 38', 48'	8,566	15th
7 January 2023	Cardiff	A	28–22	Tries: Blacker 3' c, McNicholl 26' m, J. Davies 28' c Conversions: Halfpenny (2) 4', 30' Penalties: Halfpenny (3) 44', 51', 71'	10,486	15th
27 January 2023	Bulls	H	37–28	Tries: Davis 9' c, Mathias 14' c, G. Davies 20' c, McNicholl 75' c Conversions: Costelow (3) 10', 15', 21', D. Jones 77' Penalties: Costelow (3) 2', 31', 45'	6,711	14th
18 February 2023	Edinburgh	H	42–14	Tries: Conbeer (2) 5' c, 45' c, Fifita 11' c, St. Evans 30' c, G. Davies 49' c, James 75'c Conversions: Costelow (3) 6', 13', 32', D. Jones (3) 46', 49', 76'	7,531	14th
3 March 2023	Munster	A	42–49	Tries: Roberts 34' c, Fifita 46' c, Kalamafoni 53' c, Lousi 60' c, T. Davies 70' c, Rogers 76' c Conversions: Costelow (6) 35', 47', 54', 61', 71', 77'	8,008	14th
25 March 2023	Sharks	H	32–20	Tries: St. Evans (2) 8' c, 45' c Conversions: Costelow (2) 9', 45' Penalties: Costelow (6) 13', 22', 52', 55', 71', 75'	7,956	13th
14 April 2023	Glasgow Warriors	A	9–12	Penalties: Dan Jones (3) 5', 12', 49'	6,815	14th
22 April 2023	Dragons	A	14–31	Tries: Hardy 23' c, Tuipulotu 69' c Conversions: Costelow (2) 23', 70'	41,139	14th

Tables

Overall

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	F	A	PD	BP	Pts
13	Ospreys	18	5	2	11	400	514	−114	11	35
14	Scarlets	18	6	1	11	435	506	−71	8	34
15	Dragons	18	4	0	14	391	534	−143	8	24

Welsh Shield

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	F	A	PD	BP	Pts
1	Cardiff	18	9	0	9	425	470	−45	8	44
2	Ospreys	18	5	2	11	400	514	−114	11	35
3	Scarlets	18	6	1	11	435	506	−71	8	34
4	Dragons	18	4	0	14	391	534	−143	8	24

European Rugby Challenge Cup

Pool stage

Fixtures

Date	Opponents	H / A	Result F–A	Scorers	Attendance	Table position
11 December 2022	Bayonne	H	39–7	Tries: Conbeer 6' c, Blacker 8' m, Lousi 39' c, Thomson 55' c, St. Evans 58' c Conversions: Costelow (4) 7', 40', 56', 59' Penalties: Costelow (2) 13', 17'	6,357	1st
17 December 2022	Cheetahs	A	45–26	Tries: St. Evans (2) 11' c, 18' c, Conbeer 22' c, McNicholl 25' c, Lousi 38' c, Owens 78' c Conversions: Costelow (6) 12', 18', 23', 26', 39', 79' Penalties: Costelow 6'	200	1st
13 January 2023	Cheetahs	H	20–17	Tries: St. Evans 22' c, McNicholl 54' c Conversions: Halfpenny (2) 24', 55' Penalties: Halfpenny (2) 9', 63'	7,105	1st
21 January 2023	Bayonne	A	20–7	Tries: J. Davies 29' m, Roberts 35' m, St. Evans 50' c Conversions: Halfpenny 51' Penalties: Halfpenny 9'	4,744	1st

Table

Pool B
Team v t e	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	Diff	TF	TA	TB	LB	Pts
Scarlets	4	4	0	0	124	57	+67	16	8	2	0	18
Benetton	4	3	0	1	120	70	+50	16	10	3	0	15
Lions	4	2	1	1	98	85	+13	11	11	2	0	12
Stade Français	4	2	0	2	85	86	–1	11	10	1	1	10
Dragons	4	1	1	2	98	103	–5	12	11	2	2	10
Cheetahs	4	2	0	2	73	87	–14	8	9	1	1	10
Pau	4	1	0	3	64	72	–8	6	6	0	3	7
Bayonne	4	0	0	4	28	130	–102	4	19	0	0	0

Green background (rows 1 to 6) are qualification places for the Challenge Cup round of 16. Starting table — source: EPCR

Knockout stage

Date	Round	Opponents	H / A	Result F–A	Scorers	Attendance
31 March 2023	Round of 16	Brive	H	19–7	Tries: Fifita 50' m, Shingler 78' m Penalties: Costelow (3) 3', 15', 28'	7,784
7 April 2023	Quarter-final	Clermont Auvergne	H	32–30	Tries: Halfpenny 7' m, Costelow 14' c, J. Williams 36' c, Conbeer 75' c Conversions: Halfpenny 15', Costelow (2) 37', 76' Penalties: Halfpenny 6', Costelow 68'	7,634
29 April 2023	Semi-final	Glasgow Warriors	H	17–35	Tries: St. Evans 31' m Penalties: Costelow (4) 24', 28', 40', 46'	13,077

Statistics

(+ in the Apps column denotes substitute appearance, positions listed are the ones they have started a game in during the season)

Pos.	Name	United Rugby Championship						European Challenge Cup						Total						Discipline
Pos.	Name	Apps	Try	Con	Pen	Drop	Pts	Apps	Try	Con	Pen	Drop	Pts	Apps	Try	Con	Pen	Drop	Pts
FB	Leigh Halfpenny	5	0	10	12	0	56	3+1	1	4	4	0	25	8+1	1	14	16	0	81	0	0
FB	Johnny McNicholl	13+2	5	0	0	0	25	5	2	0	0	0	10	18+2	7	0	0	0	35	1	0
FB	Ioan Nicholas	6+1	0	0	0	0	0	2+4	0	0	0	0	0	8+5	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
WG	Corey Baldwin	3+1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3+1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
WG	Ryan Conbeer	15	6	0	0	0	30	5	3	0	0	0	15	20	9	0	0	0	45	1	0
WG	Steff Evans	12+4	6	0	0	0	30	6+1	6	0	0	0	30	18+5	12	0	0	0	60	0	0
WG/FB	Tom Rogers	8	3	0	0	0	15	2	0	0	0	0	0	10	3	0	0	0	15	0	0
CE	Jonathan Davies	11+1	3	0	0	0	15	3	1	0	0	0	5	14+1	4	0	0	0	20	0	0
CE	Eddie James	1+1	1	0	0	0	5	0	0	0	0	0	0	1+1	1	0	0	0	5	0	0
CE	Joe Roberts	6+1	1	0	0	0	5	5	1	0	0	0	5	11+1	2	0	0	0	10	1	0
CE	Johnny Williams	5+1	2	0	0	0	10	3	1	0	0	0	5	8+1	3	0	0	0	15	0	0
CE	Scott Williams	4+1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	5+1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
FH	Sam Costelow	12	3	21	15	0	102	6+1	1	12	11	0	62	18+1	4	33	26	0	164	3	0
FH	Dan Jones	4+7	0	5	3	0	19	0	0	0	0	0	0	4+7	0	5	3	0	19	1	0
FH/FB	Rhys Patchell	2+9	0	6	2	0	18	1+4	0	0	0	0	0	3+13	0	6	2	0	18	0	0
SH	Dane Blacker	4+7	2	0	0	0	10	3	1	0	0	0	5	7+7	3	0	0	0	15	0	0
SH	Gareth Davies	9+3	2	0	0	0	10	4+1	0	0	0	0	0	12+4	2	0	0	0	10	2	0
SH	Kieran Hardy	5+5	1	0	0	0	5	0+6	0	0	0	0	0	5+11	1	0	0	0	5	0	0
SH	Archie Hughes	0+1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0+1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
N8/FL	Sione Kalamafoni	14+1	3	0	0	0	15	3+1	0	0	0	0	0	17+2	3	0	0	0	15	2	1
N8	Carwyn Tuipulotu	3+5	1	0	0	0	5	2+2	0	0	0	0	0	5+7	1	0	0	0	5	1	0
N8	Ben Williams	0+1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0+1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
FL	Dan Davis	8	2	0	0	0	10	3	0	0	0	0	0	11	2	0	0	0	10	0	0
FL/HK	Shaun Evans	5+5	0	0	0	0	0	0+5	0	0	0	0	0	5+10	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
FL	Tomas Lezana	2+2	0	0	0	0	0	0+3	0	0	0	0	0	2+5	0	0	0	0	0	0	1
FL	Josh Macleod	8+1	0	0	0	0	0	5	0	0	0	0	0	13+1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
FL	Iestyn Rees	0+1	0	0	0	0	0	0+1	0	0	0	0	0	0+2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
FL	Iwan Shenton	2+1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2+1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
FL	Dan Thomas	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
FL	Blade Thomson	4+1	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	5	5+1	1	0	0	0	5	1	0
FL/LK	Aaron Shingler	7+2	0	0	0	0	0	5	1	0	0	0	5	16+2	1	0	0	0	5	1	0
FL	Luca Giannini	0+1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0+1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
LK	Vaea Fifita	14	3	0	0	0	15	6	1	0	0	0	5	20	4	0	0	0	20	4	1
LK	Josh Helps	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
LK	Morgan Jones	3+7	0	0	0	0	0	2+1	0	0	0	0	0	5+8	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
LK	Sam Lousi	12	3	0	0	0	15	7	2	0	0	0	10	19	5	0	0	0	25	0	1
LK	Jac Price	3+1	0	0	0	0	0	0+1	0	0	0	0	0	3+2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
LK	Tom Price	6+3	0	0	0	0	0	0+2	0	0	0	0	0	6+5	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
LK	Lewis Rawlins	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
HK	Taylor Davies	1+4	1	0	0	0	5	0	0	0	0	0	0	1+4	1	0	0	0	5	0	0
HK	Ryan Elias	4+2	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	6+2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
HK	Dafydd Hughes	3+4	2	0	0	0	10	0	0	0	0	0	0	3+4	2	0	0	0	10	0	0
HK	Ken Owens	5+3	0	0	0	0	0	5+2	1	0	0	0	5	10+5	1	0	0	0	5	0	0
PR	WillGriff John	3+3	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	5+3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
PR	Wyn Jones	2+4	0	0	0	0	0	2+3	0	0	0	0	0	4+7	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
PR	Samson Lee	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
PR	Kemsley Mathias	7+4	1	0	0	0	5	5+2	0	0	0	0	0	12+6	1	0	0	0	5	0	0
PR	Harri O'Connor	4+5	0	0	0	0	0	0+1	0	0	0	0	0	4+6	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
PR	Sam O'Connor	0+1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0+1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
PR	Phil Price	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
PR	Javan Sebastian	7+6	0	0	0	0	0	5+1	0	0	0	0	0	12+7	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
PR	Steffan Thomas	8+9	0	0	0	0	0	0+2	0	0	0	0	0	8+11	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
PR	Sam Wainwright	4+4	0	0	0	0	0	0+5	0	0	0	0	0	4+9	0	0	0	0	0	1	0

Stats correct as of match played 29 April 2023

Transfers

In

Date confirmed	Pos.	Name	From	Ref.
26 January 2022	LK	Vaea Fifita	Wasps	^[3]
31 August 2022	FL	Iwan Shenton	Aberavon	^[4]
31 August 2022	LK	Griff Evans	Llandovery	^[4]
20 October 2022	FL	Dan Thomas	Bristol Bears (loan)	^[5]
18 November 2022	PR	Sam Wainwright	Saracens	^[6]

Out

Date confirmed	Pos.	Name	To	Ref.
6 January 2022	FB	Liam Williams	Cardiff Rugby	^[7]
4 May 2022	FH	Angus O'Brien	Dragons	^[8]
16 May 2022	PR	Rob Evans		^[9]
	CE	Steffan Hughes		^[10]
	HK	Marc Jones	Retired	^[11]
	FB	Tomi Lewis	Jersey Reds	^[12]
	CE	Tyler Morgan	Biarritz	^[13]
	FL	Tom Phillips	Llanelli RFC^[a]	^[14]
23 November 2022	LK	Josh Helps	Retired^[b]	^[15]
16 February 2023	FL	Blade Thomson	Retired	^[16]
20 March 2023	FL	Tomas Lezana	US Montauban	^[17]
20 April 2023	PR	Alex Jeffries	Retired	^[18]

^ After being released, Phillips joined the Scarlets Academy as a development skills coach while still playing semi-professionally for Llanelli RFC.^[14]
^ Although Helps announced his retirement from professional rugby, he still played semi-professionally for Carmarthen Quins until the remainder of the season.^[15]

References

^ "Pro14 becomes United Rugby Championship as South Africa sides join tournament". BBC. 15 June 2021. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
^ "Scarlets v Dragons and Cardiff Rugby match cancelled as every Welsh grassroots game could be off after Queen's death". WalesOnline. 9 September 2022. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
^ "Vaea Fifita: Scarlets sign New Zealand lock from Wasps". BBC Sport. 26 January 2022. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
^ "Scarlets sign Shenton and Evans for 2022-23". BBC Sport. 31 August 2022. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
^ "Bristol back-rower Dan Thomas joins Scarlets on a short-term loan". Scarlets. 20 October 2022. Retrieved 20 October 2022.
^ "Wales international Sam Wainwright signs from Saracens". Scarlets. 18 November 2022. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
^ "Liam Williams switches from Scarlets to Cardiff as official announcement made on Wales star's future". WalesOnline. 6 January 2022. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
^ "Angus O'Brien to rejoin Dragons from Scarlets". BBC Sport. 4 May 2022. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
^ "Rob Evans: Wales prop signs Dragons deal after Scarlets departure". BBC Sport. 19 May 2022. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
^ "Hughes links up as injury cover". Dragons RFC. 1 October 2022. Retrieved 1 October 2022.
^ "Scarlets confirm 2021-22 player departures". Scarlets. 16 May 2022. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
^ "Reds confirm five new signings for new season". Jersey Reds. 15 June 2022. Retrieved 9 July 2022.
^ "Ex-Dragons star Tyler Morgan relishing new start at Biarritz". South Wales Argus. 31 August 2022. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
^ ^a ^b "Tom Phillips appointed as Academy coach". Scarlets. 12 August 2022. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
^ ^a ^b "Josh Helps to retire from professional rugby". Scarlets. 23 November 2022. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
^ "Blade Thomson to retire from rugby". Scarlets. 16 February 2023. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
^ "Tomás Lezana leaves Scarlets". Scarlets. 20 March 2023. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
^ "Alex Jeffries to retire from rugby". Scarlets. 20 April 2023. Retrieved 20 April 2023.

[3] Match was cancelled following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.^[2]

[16] After being released, Phillips joined the Scarlets Academy as a development skills coach while still playing semi-professionally for Llanelli RFC.^[14]

[18] Although Helps announced his retirement from professional rugby, he still played semi-professionally for Carmarthen Quins until the remainder of the season.^[15]

[1] "Pro14 becomes United Rugby Championship as South Africa sides join tournament". BBC. 15 June 2021. Retrieved 6 July 2021.

[2] "Scarlets v Dragons and Cardiff Rugby match cancelled as every Welsh grassroots game could be off after Queen's death". WalesOnline. 9 September 2022. Retrieved 25 August 2023.

[4] "Vaea Fifita: Scarlets sign New Zealand lock from Wasps". BBC Sport. 26 January 2022. Retrieved 18 May 2022.

[5] "Scarlets sign Shenton and Evans for 2022-23". BBC Sport. 31 August 2022. Retrieved 31 August 2022.

[6] "Bristol back-rower Dan Thomas joins Scarlets on a short-term loan". Scarlets. 20 October 2022. Retrieved 20 October 2022.

[7] "Wales international Sam Wainwright signs from Saracens". Scarlets. 18 November 2022. Retrieved 19 November 2022.

[8] "Liam Williams switches from Scarlets to Cardiff as official announcement made on Wales star's future". WalesOnline. 6 January 2022. Retrieved 16 May 2022.

[9] "Angus O'Brien to rejoin Dragons from Scarlets". BBC Sport. 4 May 2022. Retrieved 16 May 2022.

[10] "Rob Evans: Wales prop signs Dragons deal after Scarlets departure". BBC Sport. 19 May 2022. Retrieved 19 May 2022.

[11] "Hughes links up as injury cover". Dragons RFC. 1 October 2022. Retrieved 1 October 2022.

[12] "Scarlets confirm 2021-22 player departures". Scarlets. 16 May 2022. Retrieved 16 May 2022.

[13] "Reds confirm five new signings for new season". Jersey Reds. 15 June 2022. Retrieved 9 July 2022.

[14] "Ex-Dragons star Tyler Morgan relishing new start at Biarritz". South Wales Argus. 31 August 2022. Retrieved 21 September 2022.

[phillips-15] "Tom Phillips appointed as Academy coach". Scarlets. 12 August 2022. Retrieved 29 January 2023.

[helps-17] "Josh Helps to retire from professional rugby". Scarlets. 23 November 2022. Retrieved 29 January 2023.

[19] "Blade Thomson to retire from rugby". Scarlets. 16 February 2023. Retrieved 16 February 2023.

[20] "Tomás Lezana leaves Scarlets". Scarlets. 20 March 2023. Retrieved 20 March 2023.

[21] "Alex Jeffries to retire from rugby". Scarlets. 20 April 2023. Retrieved 20 April 2023.

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