Scarlets spent last week doing two things at once: signing a 42-cap Wales fly-half, and telling their supporters they intend to still exist in three years.
The Welsh Rugby Union confirmed on Wednesday that Cardiff and Dragons will be granted licences under its plan to cut the professional game from four teams to three by 2028. That leaves Llanelli's Scarlets and Swansea's Ospreys competing for the single western place, unless a merger is revived. The process to set the decision framework begins in December and concludes before the end of the 2026-27 season.
Scarlets responded with an open letter.
"It is our mission, as it has always been, to be at the forefront of a strong, meaningful and sustainable future for rugby in west Wales. Our focus remains unchanged and unhindered," the club told supporters. "We head towards an exciting new season with confidence and purpose. We have made significant progress on and off the field and that momentum will continue at pace."
The recruitment supports the claim, if not the finances behind it. Director of rugby Nigel Davies — confirmed in the role for two more seasons after taking over from Dwayne Peel — has brought in Wales prop Corey Domachowski, All Black Cullen Grace, locks Harvey Cuckson, Alex Groves and Tom Allen, hookers John McKee and George Roberts, full-back Isaac Murray-Macgregor, and now Gareth Anscombe from Bayonne.
Anscombe, 35, was limited to five Top 14 appearances by injury last season. He arrives to compete with Sam Costelow and to mentor Wales U20 playmaker Carwyn Leggatt-Jones and Elis Price — a real gap, given Scarlets were reduced to starting centre Joe Hawkins at 10 on 11 occasions last season when Costelow was out.
"Every recruitment decision starts with one simple question — does this make us better? And we believe Gareth unquestionably does," Davies said. "He's coming here hungry to compete. He's joining Scarlets to challenge for the jersey and because he believes he can make a real contribution to this team — and that's exactly the type of mentality we want within our environment."
Anscombe framed it as a squad he wanted to join rather than a landing spot.
"I'm genuinely excited to be joining the Scarlets at what I believe is an exciting time for the club. I have watched the recruitment and strengthening of the squad over recent months with interest and there's a lot of ambition here at Parc y Scarlets," he said. "Competition brings the best out of players and that's exactly what I want."
Not everyone reads the WRU announcement as news. Former Ospreys and Wales wing Shane Williams argued on Radio Wales Breakfast that the outcome has been obvious for some time, and that the damage is the repetition of it.
"Is it really a surprise? We just had a little bit of a break from the debacle," Williams said. "The conversation has always been that everyone believes there will be a region cut, that players' welfare and jobs will be put on the line again. It's no real shock to me, we just have to start the conversation again and the uncertainty hits us again."
Williams, from Carmarthenshire, was blunt about the merger option that nearly happened in 2019.
"It's easier said than done. There is huge rivalry and the Ospreys are in the process of rebuilding St Helen's and there is Parc y Scarlets, which is barely used by anyone else. For the fans, there has been a huge rivalry and it would take some job to get those two sets of supporters together to support one entity."
The dispute is also heading back to court. Swansea Council is poised to resume legal proceedings against the WRU, having taken advice from Blackstone Chambers and sports lawyer Nick De Marco KC. The stay was due to expire this week; the union's defence is due within a fortnight.
"We were given assurances by the WRU during our on-going legal case that this would be a fair and transparent process, which is why we agreed to pause our legal case," council leader Rob Stewart said. The council's statement added that the "prospect of a single professional licence in west Wales has not been adequately justified and that key questions remain unanswered".
Both regions signed the Professional Rugby Agreement, which offers security to 2028 — and no further. The cost of the uncertainty is already visible: Wales captains Dewi Lake and Jac Morgan left Ospreys for Gloucester, with the situation at the region a factor.
On the field, neither club can point to results as protection. Scarlets finished 14th in the United Rugby Championship last season, above only Dragons and Zebre; Ospreys were 11th and went out of the Challenge Cup in the last 16.
There is a view that Anscombe's arrival changes the shape of the Scarlets' season beyond the No.10 shirt. On the SportIn Wales podcast, former Wales full-back Liam Williams suggested Anscombe would matter most in the windows when the region is stripped of internationals — losing Costelow, Hawkins and Eddie James to autumn and Six Nations duty — and would take the pressure off the 18-year-old Leggatt-Jones rather than block him. Wales U20s head coach Richard Whiffin agreed, arguing it lets Scarlets choose the young fly-half's games rather than throw him in.
Scarlets open their URC campaign at home to Anscombe's former club Cardiff on Saturday 26 September.
