Wales players 'very keen' for Scarlets action

Blair Murray was one of Wales' standout performers during another difficult Six Nations campaign

Dwayne Peel says Scarlets' Wales contingent will come straight into contention for the region's home United Rugby Championship (URC) game against Stormers on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

Blair Murray, Ellis Mee and Joe Roberts all started last weekend's Six Nations mauling by England in Cardiff but will be available for the Stormers' visit to Parc y Scarlets.

Henry Thomas and Taine Plumtree could also feature having been away with Wales, with injured wing Tom Rogers the only Scarlet involved in the Six Nations who will definitely miss out this weekend.

"We have spoken to all of them," said Scarlets head coach Peel.

"We have the back-three boys who have played the most. The other boys haven't had so much game-time.

"But they were all very keen to come back into contention. It's good from my perspective that they want to come back and play and are very enthusiastic about taking the field."

Scarlets held a squad barbecue after training on Monday which Peel says was designed "to make sure we are all coming together again" heading into the key stage of their season.

Scarlets are 10th in the URC following their narrow defeat in Ulster last weekend.

With three successive Welsh derbies to come after the Stormers game, Peel says there was no need "to have too much of a conversation" with his Wales players despite the nation's struggles during the Six Nations.

"It was more 'yeah we are ready to go, we realise it's an important month'," he added.

"For me as a coach it's great to have that. I am proud that they are thinking that way, that they want to come back and represent and put their best foot forward."

Rogers will be out for a number of weeks after suffering a broken thumb during Wales' Six Nations loss in Scotland.

Sam Costelow remains sidelined having been out since January because of a broken collarbone, though the fly-half is close to a return to action, while Scarlets captain Josh Macleod is back available for the Stormers game.

Max Douglas has impressed since joining Scarlets last summer, but looks to have played his last game in 2024-25

But the news is not so good for Australian forward Max Douglas, who looks likely to miss the remainder of the season with a shoulder injury picked up against Ulster.

"He is pretty sore at the minute," Peel said. "He won't be available in the short to medium term I'd say."

Scarlets announced last week that Wales international Joe Hawkins will join them from Exeter Chiefs ahead of the 2025-26 season.

Hawkins, 22, has played most of his rugby at inside centre, but Peel regards the former Osprey as a serious fly-half option.

"He hasn't played that much 10 but we see him as a genuine ball player there, so that's where we see him really," he said.

"That doesn't mean he can't play in other positions, but I think he has the ability to play 10. Having the competition between him and Sam and the other centres will be good for us."