Editing Scarlets (section)

===Formation===
{{For|background on the formation of regional rugby|Welsh regional rugby}}
[[File:WalesRugbyRegions.png|thumb|left|150px|A diagram showing the development pathways managed by Wales' professional clubs]]
In 2003, the WRU elected to reduce the top tier of Welsh professional rugby from nine clubs into five regions during the [[introduction of regional rugby union teams in Wales]], attempting to mirror the successful formats in Ireland, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.

Initially, it was planned to have a region playing at Stradey Park, with players coming from [[Llanelli RFC|Llanelli]], [[Swansea RFC|Swansea]] and [[Neath RFC|Neath]].<ref>{{cite news |title=WRU drops provincial bombshell |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/celtic/2547339.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=20 February 2003 |access-date=5 December 2006 }}</ref> This was then modified to have Llanelli and Swansea merging, while Neath joined with [[Bridgend Ravens|Bridgend]]. Llanelli were opposed to both plans and requested standalone status.<ref>{{cite news |title=Moffett scraps northern expansion |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/celtic/2639325.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=8 January 2003 |access-date=5 December 2006 }}</ref> Eventually, Llanelli and [[Cardiff RFC|Cardiff]] were allowed to remain independent.<ref>{{cite news |title=Layman's guide to Welsh rugby's crisis |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/welsh/2845137.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=12 March 2003 |access-date=5 December 2006 }}</ref> The Llanelli Scarlets brand was officially launched on 7 July 2003.<ref>{{cite news |title=Scarlets launch regional vision |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/welsh/3051870.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=7 July 2003 |access-date=5 December 2006 }}</ref>

Despite always having been a 100% owned Llanelli RFC subsidiary, the Scarlets were originally conceived as representing the whole of West and North Wales. In the early seasons of regional rugby, the Scarlets played a small number of games at the Racecourse Ground in Wrexham. While nominally continuing to be the regional franchisee for North Wales, the Scarlets presence there has diminished.<ref>{{cite news |title=Scarlets staying put |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/scarlets-staying-put-2332279 |work=Wales Online |date=8 June 2006 |access-date=29 March 2021 }}</ref> As of 2018, the Scarlets consider their region to represent the three counties of [[Carmarthenshire]], [[Ceredigion]] and [[Pembrokeshire]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-45172501 |title=Scarlets away kit to be inspired by region's history |date=14 August 2018 |website=BBC News |access-date=14 December 2018}}</ref>