Llanelli Scarlets are in the unusual position of supporting arch rivals Cardiff Blues to a cup victory that will save their club’s unblemished Heineken Cup attendance record.
The Scarlets have competed every year since the Heineken Cup was formed in 1995. They reached the quarter-finals seven times in the early years of the competition and were semi-finalists in 2000, 2002 and 2007, winning a reputation as one of the powerhouses of European rugby.
But their hopes of automatic qualification for next year’s tournament were dashed by defeat to the Blues in the Magners League and now Scarlets must swallow their pride and hope Cardiff lift the Amlin Challenge Cup to earn an extra Heineken place for Wales.
Scarlets boss Nigel Davies said: “Unfortunately that is the position we find ourselves in now. We felt we were good enough to win our remaining games but now we need the Blues to do us a favour or we’re playing in the Amlin Challenge Cup. The quality in the pool stage of that competition just isn’t the same as Heineken Cup rugby.”
Cardiff coach Dai Young admitted his team would fly the national flag as the last Welsh team in Europe against England’s final hope, Wasps.
Young said: “The pressure is off us a little now after qualifying for Europe. We want to win the Challenge Cup for ourselves, but if we can go all the way and help the Scarlets at the same time, it would be an added bonus.”
