Uncertainty hitting Scarlets contract talks - Peel

Dwayne Peel has been in charge of Scarlets since 2021

Scarlets boss Dwayne Peel says building a squad for next season is being hit by the uncertainty surrounding professional rugby in Wales.

The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) has proposed cutting the number of men's clubs from the current four – Cardiff, Dragons, Ospreys, Scarlets – to three by 2027.

The governing body plans to have a side in the east, another in the capital and one in the west, effectively putting the Scarlets and Ospreys at risk.

The Welsh Rugby Players Association (WRPA) warned in September, when the proposal was going down to two clubs, that changes would "drive talent to leave Wales".

Head coach Peel says the situation is making his retention and recruitment challenging for 2025-26 while stressing the impact on the whole organisation.

"It's very difficult to make any certainty for contracting," said the former Scarlets, Wales and British and Irish Lions scrum-half.

"There's a couple of guys we've started negotiations with, but until we have certainty it's a very difficult spot from that perspective.

"I don't think we've got as many (out of contract players) as other teams but it is tough to manage. It's uncertainty for everyone not only players.

"It doesn't only effect players in this case it affects everyone in the club whether that's rugby staff, commercial staff and finance staff."

Scarlets lost all four fixtures in the first block of the United Rugby Championship (URC) and return to action on Saturday night when hosting Glasgow Warriors (19:45 GMT).

The game will test their squad depth as it clashes with Wales' autumn finale against South Africa, with the three-quarters missing centres Joe Hawkins and Joe Roberts plus Tom Rogers, Ellis Mee and Blair Murray in the back three.