07/08/2008 - Improvement the key as Jenkins outlines vision
Gareth Jenkins has outlined his vision for the future of the Scarlets' two Principality Premiership clubs.
In his new role as head of regional development and player recruitment, Jenkins is in charge of improving the region's infrastructure while head coach Nigel Davies takes care of first-team performance.
Part of Jenkins's mandate is to develop the Scarlets' academy players and those not in the first-team frame.
And he sees Llanelli and Llandovery as key to fulfilling that aim, especially now the WRU has relaxed rules on the availability of regional players to their affiliated club sides.
Llanelli and Llandovery have both had new coaching teams installed over the summer and are also set for an influx of regional players, who will play a much bigger part in club rugby next season.
Kevin George has taken over from John Davies as head coach at Stradey Park, working alongside forwards coach Vernon Cooper and backs coach Paul Fisher.
"Llandovery RFC and Llanelli RFC are two of my priority challenges," said former Wales coach Jenkins.
"Both would admit themselves for the last few years they've been disappointing to say the least in their performances.
"It's a key area as far as I'm concerned to make sure we have a vibrant semi-professional tier within our region.
"Standards have to improve. We've restructured both coaching groups, we've made new appointments and the remit is simple - it's about both teams having to actually play a lot better, show a lot more consistency and get better results than they've been having in recent years."
Unlike the Ospreys, the Scarlets have decided not to allocate their players to club sides, but will instead farm them out as and when they are needed.
"I think what we have to say really is who needs rugby? When do they need rugby? And what we'd do then is make a decision around a weekly meeting with the semi-pros about who we need to play where and when," he said. "It's a big advantage as far as I'm concerned.
"We've been depriving a lot of professional players of regular rugby because we could only move two players to a team which meant only four players could play on a Saturday.
"That's completely changed. I think it's a great move by the WRU, it's very innovative and what it means is all players outside the (Scarlets) 22 who aren't injured will be available to play for one of our semi-pro teams."
With the four other regions also planning to make players not involved in first-team action available to their club sides, the Principality Premiership promises to be a more exciting proposition next season, with standards set to rise.
"We have to get the mentality right," added Jenkins. "We have to make sure the players who are going to play in the semi-professional tier take the right attitude and they approach it in a very professional manner. If they do that it'll raise the bar.
"We're well aware we've got too many non-Welsh players in our region at the present time and development is key to changing that."
While Llandovery flirted with relegation last season, Llanelli also had a disappointing campaign, finishing ninth in the Principality Premiership table.
This season's target is simple.
"Improvement," insisted Jenkins.
"That's easy to measure - win more games than they did last year and to play better than they did last year. Everybody in both environments is aware of that.
"Their ambitions are a lot greater than they were."