A decent period for Cardiff Blues, who hold on to the ball and go through the phases patiently just outside the Scarlets 22.

The home defence stands firm, however, and eventually force the Blues into a mistake, with a knock-on handing the Scarlets a scrum.

Scarlets almost threw away their lead moments after establishing it, with their former wing Josh Adams getting his hands on the ball for the Blues.

However, the Wales international is penalised for an accidental offside after bumping into his own player.

Lively start to this match.

The first penalty of the match goes to the Scarlets, who get the better of the Cardiff Blues in the first scrum of the game.

Dan Jones kicks the penalty into touch and the hosts have a line-out in the opposition 22.

Scarlets eventually work it wide to flanker Ed Kennedy, who's bundled into touch.

Here we go then, referee Nigel Owens blows his whistle to mark the return of Welsh rugby after almost six months away.

It's Cardiff Blues fly-half Jarrod Evans to take kick-off, and the game is under way.

It was optional for all players, but every single one of the Scarlets and Cardiff Blues players took a knee near the halfway line.

A striking image.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Image source, Getty Images

One of the big talking points for sport's return since coronavirus has been the Black Lives Matter movement and other anti-racist efforts.

Pro14 players will be free to express themselves ahead of games after the league underlined its "rugby against racism" stance.

Many competitors in other sports have taken a knee before games to show support for the Black Lives Matter movement since elite sport returned after lockdown.

The Pro14 say players can decide on their own appropriate gestures.

There is no mention of Black Lives Matter in a statement issued by the league.

"At each game a moment's silence will be observed to mark the loss of life suffered during the Covid-19 pandemic and to honour those who have worked on the frontline to protect us," said a Pro14 spokesperson.

"After this a 'unity moment' will be observed to demonstrate that rugby stands united against racism and to emphasise the game's core values of solidarity and respect.

"Players will stand in a circular formation and during this time they are free to express themselves in a manner they deem appropriate."

...and the same goes for Cardiff Blues captain Josh Turnbull.

Formerly of the Scarlets, the versatile forward can't wait to get started again.

Scarlets head coach Glenn Delaney has been speaking about his eagerness to resume the Pro14 season with Saturday's today's home match against Cardiff Blues.

Wales forwards Cory Hill and Rhys Carre both make their first appearances of their second spells with Cardiff Blues.

Second row Hill has rejoined from Dragons, while loosehead prop Carre is back from a brief spell with Saracens.

Wales backs Josh Adams and Hallam Amos return from long-term injuries in the Blues backline but wing Owen Lane misses out because of a calf injury.

Here's the Blues team in full:

Cardiff Blues: H Amos; J Adams, H Millard, B Thomas, A Summerhill; J Evans, T Williams; R Carre, K Dacey, D Lewis, C Hill, R Thornton, J Turnbull (capt), W Boyde, O Robinson.

Replacements: K Myhill, R Gill, K Assiratti, S Davies, S Lewis-Hughes, L Williams, G Smith, M Morgan.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Wales-qualified centre Johnny Williams will make his Scarlets debut today.

Following his move from Newcastle, Williams is partnered in midfield with Steff Hughes, who captains the side with regular skipper Ken Owens named on the bench.

British and Irish Lions full-back Liam Williams misses out with a foot injury suffered in training.

Ed Kennedy starts in a late change for the Scarlets in the back row, replacing Blade Thomson.

Here's the Scarlets team in full:

Scarlets: L Halfpenny; J McNicholl, S Hughes (capt), J Williams, S Evans; D Jones, G Davies; W Jones, R Elias, S Lee, L Rawlins, S Lousi, E Kennedy, U Cassiem, J Macleod.

Replacements: K Owens, P Price, W Kruger, J Ball, J Davies, K Hardy, A O'Brien, P Asquith.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Since the last time a Welsh region played a league game was back in March, it's worth recapping how the Pro14 2019-20 season will finish.

With six rounds of the season since written off, two weeks of derbies on the last two weekends in August will take place in Wales, Scotland, Ireland and Italy, with South African duo Cheetahs and Southern Kings not in action because of government restrictions.

The 2019-20 season will be completed over four weeks, with the final scheduled for 12 September.

The semi-finals will be at Dublin's Aviva Stadium or Murrayfield in Edinburgh on 4/5/6 September.

Those finishing in the top two places in Conference A and B will contest the semi-finals.

The top three teams in Conference A are Leinster, Ulster and Glasgow Warriors and the top three in the other section are Edinburgh, Munster and Scarlets.

Defending champions Leinster are already guaranteed to finish top of Conference A as they hold an unassailable 18-point lead.

In Conference B, Edinburgh have a two-point advantage over Munster, who are also well-placed for a spot in the last four with an eight-point lead over Scarlets in third.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

So how much of the 2019-20 season is there left to play?

Zebre and Benetton kicked off the Pro14 last night and here are the remaining fixtures of the regular season.

Pro14 2019-20 fixtures

Friday, 21 August

Benetton 13-17 Zebre, Stadio Monigo

Saturday, 22 August

Scarlets v Cardiff Blues, Parc y Scarlets, 15:00 BST

Edinburgh v Glasgow, Murrayfield, 17:15 BST

Leinster v Munster, Aviva Stadium, 19:35 BST

Sunday, 23 August

Ospreys v Dragons, Liberty Stadium, 14:15 BST

Connacht v Ulster, Aviva Stadium, 16:30 BST

Friday, 28 August

Glasgow v Edinburgh, Murrayfield, 19:35 BST

Saturday, 29 August

Dragons v Scarlets, Rodney Parade, 17:15 BST

Ulster v Leinster, Aviva Stadium, 19:35 BST

Sunday, 30 August

Munster v Connacht, Aviva Stadium, 15:00 BST

Cardiff Blues v Ospreys, Rodney Parade, 17:00 BST

Zebre v Benetton, Stadio Lanfranchi, 19:00 BST.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

In short, the Welsh regions have little chance of Pro14 semi-final play-off qualification.

Only Scarlets have a chance of making the semi-finals by overhauling Munster, but this will only occur with an unlikely set of results.

Scarlets will have to win both their games and Munster lose their two final regular league matches and even then it's not mathematically guaranteed.

Scarlets and Dragons will also see their games as preparation for their European Challenge Cup quarter-finals against Toulon and Bristol respectively in mid-September.

In contrast, Ospreys and Cardiff Blues will have a five-week break between the upcoming derbies and the planned start of the 2020-21 season, on the first weekend of October.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Welsh rugby is back! And how we have missed it.

Having watched the sport return in New Zealand, Australia and England, finally it's Wales' turn.

Almost six months since coronavirus brought everything to a halt, the Pro14 resumed last night as Zebre beat Italian rivals Benetton.

This weekend features two Welsh derbies, starting with today's match between Scarlets and Cardiff Blues.

On what promises to be an unusual afternoon at an empty Parc y Scarlets, we'll bring you all the thrills and spills from Llanelli right here.

Let's go!