0:00:04 > 0:00:07Wales - a rugby nation,
0:00:07 > 0:00:11where every town and every village gets behind its local team.
0:00:11 > 0:00:15Come on, Bethesda! Come on, Bethesda lads!
0:00:15 > 0:00:19In Llanelli, top-class rugby has been played for 140 years.
0:00:21 > 0:00:23And it inspires a whole region.
0:00:23 > 0:00:26We've got boys out on this field that are amongst
0:00:26 > 0:00:28the best in the world at what they do.
0:00:28 > 0:00:31But these days, it's more than a game. It's a business.
0:00:32 > 0:00:34And it's a business under threat.
0:00:34 > 0:00:38What keeps me awake at night is paying the wages next month.
0:00:38 > 0:00:41It's a battle to keep the big players here in Wales...
0:00:41 > 0:00:44I'll say a W - by five.
0:00:44 > 0:00:48..and ensure a precious rugby tradition survives.
0:00:48 > 0:00:51Unless something changes, I think our regions will be gone.
0:00:51 > 0:00:56This is the inside story of 12 months of triumph, tension,
0:00:56 > 0:01:00- Get out.- ..turmoil...- Everybody's at each other's throats..
0:01:00 > 0:01:04- And pride in the Scarlet jersey. - Yeah. A bit emotional, I guess, innit?
0:01:04 > 0:01:08Stand by for a year with the Scarlets.
0:01:13 > 0:01:16The Scarlets' head coach lifts the Heineken Cup.
0:01:16 > 0:01:21To every coach, every player, every supporter, it's a bit of a Holy Grail, really.
0:01:21 > 0:01:25Unfortunately, this is just the tournament press launch.
0:01:25 > 0:01:28No Welsh region has ever won the European Cup.
0:01:28 > 0:01:30In the year that we've been filming up close and personal
0:01:30 > 0:01:33with Simon Easterby and his Scarlets stars,
0:01:33 > 0:01:36the whole future of the tournament has been under threat.
0:01:37 > 0:01:40French and English clubs have served notice that they're going to
0:01:40 > 0:01:44pull out and that would be a massive blow for the Scarlets' players.
0:01:45 > 0:01:46It is a great competition
0:01:46 > 0:01:50and, you know, we want to be part of those big-game atmospheres.
0:01:53 > 0:01:56The supporters, too, would miss the passion of French visitors...
0:01:56 > 0:01:58# ..the Scarlets till I die... #
0:01:58 > 0:02:01..and the cross-border rivalry with English clubs.
0:02:01 > 0:02:03# ..the Scarlets till I die... #
0:02:05 > 0:02:08It's just one of the issues fuelling a rugby civil war.
0:02:08 > 0:02:12And it's not just the fans who want it sorted out quickly.
0:02:12 > 0:02:16It's worried me and, you know, it's something that's stressed me out quite a bit.
0:02:16 > 0:02:21I can't begin to understand how a group of adults manage to
0:02:21 > 0:02:23sit in a room trying to be something very significant
0:02:23 > 0:02:26and important for a whole day and just agree to have another meeting.
0:02:26 > 0:02:29That's not like any business I've ever been part of.
0:02:30 > 0:02:35So in Welsh rugby's long-running saga, will it be war - or peace?
0:02:38 > 0:02:39As a line!
0:02:39 > 0:02:45- Late summer 2013.- Press-ups, lads. - The new season dawns.
0:02:46 > 0:02:48Jack-squats - the next one for us.
0:02:48 > 0:02:52- And the Scarlets players need to shape up.- Early morning not too bad.
0:02:52 > 0:02:55Thought it would be about four o'clock, but six is not too bad.
0:02:55 > 0:02:58There is a wake-up call, too, for the Scarlets board.
0:02:58 > 0:03:02In terms of our season memberships, this has been a tough sell this year.
0:03:02 > 0:03:06We are currently 528 memberships behind 12-13
0:03:06 > 0:03:10and in terms of revenue, we're £66K behind where we were last year.
0:03:10 > 0:03:14Sponsorship, we are about £130K to go to hit the budget.
0:03:14 > 0:03:18In 2012, a report from consultants PWC was highly critical
0:03:18 > 0:03:22of the way the regions have been run, but today's
0:03:22 > 0:03:24losses are nothing like as great as they were
0:03:24 > 0:03:27when the Scarlets were being kept afloat by wealthy backers.
0:03:27 > 0:03:30Glan Wise joined the board believing that cheques
0:03:30 > 0:03:33for a few thousand pounds would be enough to keep the business going.
0:03:33 > 0:03:36When I went in, I thought, well, I'll put 20,000 in or something.
0:03:36 > 0:03:39Then it went on and it was a million, then it was two million,
0:03:39 > 0:03:43- now suddenly it's- BLEEP- four million, you know. But...
0:03:43 > 0:03:47But, er, we laugh about it but it's something that hurts the bank balance, or the wife
0:03:47 > 0:03:50finds out you've just thrown another million down on the Scarlets.
0:03:50 > 0:03:53So we're just pumping in. It wasn't run right.
0:03:53 > 0:03:56Let's be honest about it, people put their hands up.
0:03:56 > 0:03:58But it's changed, right?
0:03:58 > 0:04:00And now all of a sudden, it's changed again as far as I can see.
0:04:00 > 0:04:03There is light at the end of the tunnel.
0:04:05 > 0:04:06For the players,
0:04:06 > 0:04:12the day at this military boot camp at RAF St Athan has only just begun.
0:04:12 > 0:04:15Superb efforts from everyone. Absolutely great efforts.
0:04:15 > 0:04:17All worked your absolute socks off, fellows.
0:04:17 > 0:04:19All we're going to do now is get a bit of phys, OK,
0:04:19 > 0:04:22to wake you up before you go back and have breakfast.
0:04:22 > 0:04:25Back in what they call the War Room at Parc y Scarlets,
0:04:25 > 0:04:27the board welcomes a new recruit.
0:04:27 > 0:04:31I'd like to formally propose that Robin's accepted onto the board.
0:04:31 > 0:04:35And he's been brought in to help the Scarlets conquer the world.
0:04:35 > 0:04:40So last year, Scarlets were shown in some 45 to 50 countries.
0:04:40 > 0:04:44These are the games that we go to watch.
0:04:44 > 0:04:49And some 7,000 broadcast hours around the world.
0:04:49 > 0:04:53And you can ascribe a value to that using sort of marketing techniques.
0:04:53 > 0:04:57And without actually doing any promotion or any extra work,
0:04:57 > 0:05:00um, there's a 4 million price tag on that.
0:05:00 > 0:05:03We're doing a great job of attracting good support
0:05:03 > 0:05:05and good sponsorship locally
0:05:05 > 0:05:09but what we've never done as the Scarlets is look global.
0:05:09 > 0:05:12The imagery is massive.
0:05:12 > 0:05:15And we look at it and think, cor, that's powerful.
0:05:15 > 0:05:18But that's real, it's tangible, it's palpable
0:05:18 > 0:05:22and if you add that to the history of the Scarlets,
0:05:22 > 0:05:24Scarlets is an incredibly powerful brand.
0:05:24 > 0:05:27Exploiting that brand means upping their marketing game.
0:05:27 > 0:05:31The Scarlets have brought in a firm of specialists to advise them.
0:05:31 > 0:05:34When we started the heritage projects...
0:05:35 > 0:05:38Today they're hearing about plans for the Heritage Trail,
0:05:38 > 0:05:42an interactive pathway at Parc y Scarlets which will display these treasures
0:05:42 > 0:05:45and excite visitors with the whole history of rugby in Llanelli.
0:05:45 > 0:05:49A lot of the smaller clubs actually sort of gave their best
0:05:49 > 0:05:54- players to form the Llanelli teams, so that's why they were such a strong team from the beginning.- Ah!
0:05:54 > 0:05:56So on and off the pitch,
0:05:56 > 0:06:00the Scarlets' brand of rugby is about to be put to the test.
0:06:00 > 0:06:03For the players, there's an early season chance for revenge.
0:06:05 > 0:06:09Treviso nearly scuppered the Scarlets' play-off hopes last year.
0:06:14 > 0:06:16Wahay!
0:06:16 > 0:06:18Hey, what a beautiful try!
0:06:18 > 0:06:20Watching in hospitality is Peter Rees,
0:06:20 > 0:06:23the oldest living Llanelli international.
0:06:23 > 0:06:28He's called on Chief Executive Mark Davies to sort out a graphics problem for him.
0:06:28 > 0:06:31That bit of the programme is the bit that everybody uses, which is
0:06:31 > 0:06:33who's playing, and actually,
0:06:33 > 0:06:39it was very artistic - it was white writing on a red background.
0:06:39 > 0:06:42Well, he couldn't read it. I couldn't read it, either.
0:06:42 > 0:06:44And he's 87!
0:06:44 > 0:06:46- Very good, Mark bach! Good boy! - Thank you, Peter.
0:06:48 > 0:06:50After a heavy defeat by Leinster,
0:06:50 > 0:06:54putting the Italians to the sword pleases the crowd.
0:06:54 > 0:06:57But winning is not everyone's priority.
0:06:57 > 0:06:59I don't know what the score is, actually.
0:06:59 > 0:07:02They are dropping the ball all the time, scrum after scrum after scrum.
0:07:02 > 0:07:07This time of year, there's so little damage that we can just target those areas.
0:07:07 > 0:07:11In the winter now, when the weather gets worse and the scrums cause more damage,
0:07:11 > 0:07:14that's when the comments really come.
0:07:14 > 0:07:17I'd still rather grass, though. I love my grass.
0:07:17 > 0:07:19It's much better to play on grass.
0:07:19 > 0:07:21You don't want to play on plastic, do you?
0:07:21 > 0:07:23And it put me out of a job, so I don't like it!
0:07:25 > 0:07:28Centre Jonathan Davies is ready to return to action after
0:07:28 > 0:07:31a storming summer with the Lions in Australia.
0:07:31 > 0:07:34With less than 12 months to run on his Scarlets contract,
0:07:34 > 0:07:38he's certain to be targeted by those rich French and English clubs.
0:07:38 > 0:07:41He's hungry for more of the big-time.
0:07:41 > 0:07:43The boys love playing in front of massive crowds.
0:07:43 > 0:07:47I think...that's one of the things you play rugby, like.
0:07:47 > 0:07:50Massive atmosphere, you know, a sense of theatre.
0:07:51 > 0:07:54September 30th, with the launch of the European Cup,
0:07:54 > 0:07:57the curtain is up again on the big stage.
0:07:57 > 0:07:59Heineken weekends are the big weekends.
0:07:59 > 0:08:01I think everyone looks forward to them.
0:08:01 > 0:08:05The team gets to showcase their skills against the rest of Europe.
0:08:06 > 0:08:09It's television money that drives the European game.
0:08:11 > 0:08:13Players like Jonathan have to pay their dues.
0:08:13 > 0:08:18- Have you not got a game against the Saracens?- No. No, I don't think so.
0:08:20 > 0:08:24Even if some of the marketing types aren't quite sure who is on board.
0:08:24 > 0:08:28- Do you know who are in your group? - Yeah.- Cos I don't.
0:08:28 > 0:08:30Scarlets v Racing Metro.
0:08:30 > 0:08:33French teams with massive worldwide companies
0:08:33 > 0:08:36and the London teams with massive companies there, you know.
0:08:36 > 0:08:38The regions do have to work very hard to get as much
0:08:38 > 0:08:39sponsorship as they can.
0:08:39 > 0:08:42It's down to players as well to make sure that we get results
0:08:42 > 0:08:46and get companies that want to be involved with the Scarlets.
0:08:46 > 0:08:49Beautiful! And you're done. One take.
0:08:49 > 0:08:52Obviously everybody loves the Heineken Cup.
0:08:52 > 0:08:54It's had a fantastic history, particularly Scarlets.
0:08:54 > 0:08:56Massive history.
0:08:56 > 0:08:58Means so much to our supporters and players, so the thought
0:08:58 > 0:09:01of losing that is really hard for a lot of people to understand.
0:09:01 > 0:09:07Mesdames, messieurs. Bienvenue a Cardiff. Bore da. Croeso i Gaerdydd.
0:09:08 > 0:09:11English clubs are unhappy with the qualification rules
0:09:11 > 0:09:14and the share of the money they are getting, so Roger Lewis
0:09:14 > 0:09:17is keen to signal that the Welsh Rugby Union is listening.
0:09:17 > 0:09:22I passionately and honestly believe this is the next Heineken Cup final.
0:09:23 > 0:09:27And there will be another one from a WRU perspective
0:09:27 > 0:09:29where the four regions were united.
0:09:29 > 0:09:34We believe in meritocracy through qualification, through the rabble.
0:09:34 > 0:09:37We believe in a fair distribution of monies.
0:09:37 > 0:09:41And that's why we believe that common sense will prevail
0:09:41 > 0:09:43and this competition will continue.
0:09:45 > 0:09:51As a player, I think I was fortunate enough to play in some really
0:09:51 > 0:09:55good Scarlet teams and we progressed, er,
0:09:55 > 0:10:00to all but a final in terms of getting to three semifinals,
0:10:00 > 0:10:02two quarterfinals.
0:10:02 > 0:10:05A lot of highs and a few lows along the way, unfortunately,
0:10:05 > 0:10:07but that's the beauty of the competition.
0:10:07 > 0:10:13For every coach, every player, every supporter over the last 15,
0:10:13 > 0:10:1616 years, whatever it's been going for,
0:10:16 > 0:10:19it's a bit of a Holy Grail, really.
0:10:19 > 0:10:23But the Heineken Cup is only part of what is at stake now.
0:10:23 > 0:10:27The agreement which binds the regions of the WRU is up for renewal.
0:10:27 > 0:10:31It's what triggers the funding the Scarlets get from the union
0:10:31 > 0:10:35and the Scarlets have to sign to extend it by the end of December.
0:10:35 > 0:10:36Roger Lewis has been clear.
0:10:36 > 0:10:38Same again, Josh.
0:10:38 > 0:10:39If the Scarlets don't sign up,
0:10:39 > 0:10:42they won't get to represent Wales in Europe.
0:10:42 > 0:10:46And they wouldn't get funding and support from the WRU.
0:10:46 > 0:10:49In effect, there would be no region.
0:10:51 > 0:10:52As the crisis continues,
0:10:52 > 0:10:58Antonia is getting regular briefings from Scarlet's Chief Executive Mark Davies
0:10:58 > 0:11:00about the plan for next season.
0:11:00 > 0:11:03I've had two conversations this week with sponsors
0:11:03 > 0:11:06that would like to commit for 14-15,
0:11:06 > 0:11:10but can't because they don't know what they are committing to.
0:11:10 > 0:11:14We don't know what on earth we've got past the end of the season,
0:11:14 > 0:11:20we don't know what games we are playing in Europe or not.
0:11:20 > 0:11:24Can't forecast season-ticket revenue, can't forecast match day revenue,
0:11:24 > 0:11:28and actually we can't be entirely sure whether it is the pro 12
0:11:28 > 0:11:30or pro 10, so we can't forecast that one either.
0:11:30 > 0:11:36With so little certainty, Mark feels unable to renew the WRU agreement.
0:11:36 > 0:11:40Do you think they can see that we actually can't function as a business?
0:11:40 > 0:11:43It is absolutely clear. How on earth could you sign something
0:11:43 > 0:11:45when you don't know what your fixtures list is going to be?
0:11:45 > 0:11:49You're hardly going to sign a contract that you don't know the conditions of.
0:11:55 > 0:11:57Right.
0:11:57 > 0:11:59# If looks could kill they probably will
0:11:59 > 0:12:01# In games without frontiers... #
0:12:01 > 0:12:06Mid-October. For the fans, Europe beckons maybe for the last time.
0:12:06 > 0:12:09Let's beat them.
0:12:09 > 0:12:12First up, a daunting trip to London.
0:12:14 > 0:12:16Away wins in the Heineken Cup are rare.
0:12:20 > 0:12:22But the Harlequins are in for a shock.
0:12:34 > 0:12:36Game, set and match to the Scarlets.
0:12:43 > 0:12:46By December, some of Welsh rugby's biggest names
0:12:46 > 0:12:49are at the point of signing for French and English clubs.
0:12:49 > 0:12:53The regions are due to meet the WRU. The media are calling it D-day.
0:12:57 > 0:12:59Mark has a pre-meeting with the other regions
0:12:59 > 0:13:02but he's not hopeful about the main talks.
0:13:02 > 0:13:05I'm sure we will have a constructive meeting with the regions
0:13:05 > 0:13:09first and foremost, which is what we're doing now.
0:13:09 > 0:13:11That will be constructive.
0:13:11 > 0:13:13Where we go in the meeting after that,
0:13:13 > 0:13:16I don't have any expectation, because I've learnt over
0:13:16 > 0:13:21a period of a couple of years now that that's a sensible place to be.
0:13:21 > 0:13:25The regions are working on a Plan B, breaking away from the WRU
0:13:25 > 0:13:28to join the English league, the Aviva Premiership.
0:13:29 > 0:13:32Mark leaves the discussion with his regional colleagues
0:13:32 > 0:13:34just as the WRU arrive.
0:13:36 > 0:13:39Opting to join the English clubs would be lucrative
0:13:39 > 0:13:40but it's a long shot.
0:13:40 > 0:13:45I'm just off to do some actual constructive work, so...
0:13:45 > 0:13:48The option probably wouldn't be sanctioned by the game's governing bodies.
0:13:48 > 0:13:50It's difficult to say if we've really,
0:13:50 > 0:13:53really got a true option at the moment...
0:13:53 > 0:13:58but it's our responsibility to work at it and it is our responsibility to
0:13:58 > 0:14:03try to investigate every single angle that is possible to us to survive.
0:14:03 > 0:14:05We are literally at that point.
0:14:05 > 0:14:09And not just to survive for today but to survive for five years' time
0:14:09 > 0:14:12and ten years' time when the French
0:14:12 > 0:14:15and English clubs will be stronger from their commercial platforms.
0:14:15 > 0:14:16That's fact.
0:14:16 > 0:14:18So it's no good us looking at just today,
0:14:18 > 0:14:21we've got tomorrow's job to sort as well.
0:14:21 > 0:14:23Negotiations go on into the evening,
0:14:23 > 0:14:26par for the course for the Scarlets' chairman.
0:14:26 > 0:14:28Oh, I don't mind. I've been in tough meetings most of my life.
0:14:28 > 0:14:34I started in the steel industry in 1979, just after the big strike,
0:14:34 > 0:14:36and that's a tough old business so, yeah.
0:14:38 > 0:14:40But D-day ends without accord.
0:14:40 > 0:14:43The deadline to sign the agreement is just days away.
0:14:43 > 0:14:46The WRU's concern about the exodus of players to England
0:14:46 > 0:14:48and France has now become critical.
0:14:52 > 0:14:54Mid-December.
0:14:54 > 0:14:56The Welsh regions want to join English clubs in a new
0:14:56 > 0:15:00European competition with more money from a new broadcaster.
0:15:00 > 0:15:03But Luke has other things on his mind.
0:15:03 > 0:15:08It's quite sad, really. I'm 25, single, living on my own,
0:15:08 > 0:15:10and in my phone there is just photos of grass.
0:15:10 > 0:15:14With a big game in the offing, the sequence of snaps helps Luke
0:15:14 > 0:15:17track how the pitch has stood up to wear and tear since the autumn.
0:15:17 > 0:15:21Picture after picture of grass.
0:15:21 > 0:15:22Bless.
0:15:24 > 0:15:26Don't tell anybody.
0:15:26 > 0:15:28It's just a photo of grass to most people but, to me,
0:15:28 > 0:15:31it paints 1,000 words. HE CHUCKLES
0:15:31 > 0:15:35From late October, early November, up until about February,
0:15:35 > 0:15:38this side of the pitch isn't covered in shade.
0:15:38 > 0:15:40So without sunlight the grass doesn't grow.
0:15:40 > 0:15:42That's why I'm chasing everyone off the pitch all the time,
0:15:42 > 0:15:44trying to move them over that side.
0:15:44 > 0:15:48Looking at me stupid and thinking I'm just being really pedantic
0:15:48 > 0:15:51and awkward but I'm not. There is a reason behind it.
0:15:51 > 0:15:55That's because once it's damaged, once it's gone, it's gone.
0:15:55 > 0:15:56# It's a knockout.
0:15:56 > 0:16:00# If looks could kill they probably will
0:16:00 > 0:16:04# In games without frontiers War without tears... #
0:16:04 > 0:16:06The French have invaded Llanelli
0:16:06 > 0:16:09and that throws up some security issues.
0:16:09 > 0:16:10We've got everything ready.
0:16:10 > 0:16:13Passes for everybody, tickets for everybody, food order for everybody,
0:16:13 > 0:16:17correct pass in the right area, so security should be happy with me.
0:16:19 > 0:16:23That's the deal we've got with Stewart from Head Of Security.
0:16:23 > 0:16:26If I have a good game, he buys me a cupcake,
0:16:26 > 0:16:28otherwise I'm going to buy the cupcakes.
0:16:28 > 0:16:32So fingers crossed, no cupcakes.
0:16:32 > 0:16:35The French invaders have already captured one of the Scarlets' big guns.
0:16:38 > 0:16:41Clermont Auvergne have signed Jonathan Davies for next season.
0:16:41 > 0:16:44It points up a huge disparity in funding.
0:16:46 > 0:16:50Big difference when you compare a 30 million team to a 3 million team.
0:16:51 > 0:16:54And it's the big spenders who take the spoils of battle.
0:16:54 > 0:16:57For the Scarlets' European Cup hopes, it's a knockout.
0:17:04 > 0:17:08But, in rugby, fans always seem happy to fraternise with the enemy.
0:17:11 > 0:17:16With Christmas coming, the game's governing bodies have mounted
0:17:16 > 0:17:19one more attempt to save their version of the European Cup.
0:17:19 > 0:17:23That was Nigel, who's in another meeting trying to understand
0:17:23 > 0:17:26what, if anything, happened in the union's meeting on Friday,
0:17:26 > 0:17:29which, again, the simple answer is nothing
0:17:29 > 0:17:35so the mediators flew in all the way from Canada, spend a whole day
0:17:35 > 0:17:39and couldn't agree anything beyond having another meeting in January.
0:17:39 > 0:17:45So once again we are all fiddling while Rome burns...
0:17:45 > 0:17:52I can't actually begin to understand how a group of adults managed
0:17:52 > 0:17:55to sit in a room trying to agree something very significant
0:17:55 > 0:17:58and important for a whole day and just agreed to have another meeting.
0:17:58 > 0:18:02That's not like any business I've ever been part of
0:18:02 > 0:18:03but that's where we're at,
0:18:03 > 0:18:08so we don't appear to be any further forward.
0:18:08 > 0:18:13Still nothing defined, another month on and another month to go
0:18:13 > 0:18:16apparently because there may be a meeting sometime in January.
0:18:16 > 0:18:19Absolutely staggering. But there we are, another good Sunday.
0:18:19 > 0:18:20Happy Christmas.
0:18:22 > 0:18:26Nigel arrives back to brief the Supporters' Trust.
0:18:26 > 0:18:28He's been meeting the English Aviva clubs.
0:18:28 > 0:18:33Joining them could help the Scarlets bridge the gulf with the French Top 14.
0:18:33 > 0:18:36One of the choices, potentially, is to join one of the leagues
0:18:36 > 0:18:41which has at least got the potential to rival the Top 14 in terms of commercial value.
0:18:41 > 0:18:45There is no secret that that could potentially be the Aviva.
0:18:45 > 0:18:50Is that probable? I'd honestly have to answer today, maybe not.
0:18:51 > 0:18:54Could it happen? Possibly.
0:18:54 > 0:18:57The real game-changer in all this has been the French market.
0:18:57 > 0:19:00The French TV deal for the Top 14
0:19:00 > 0:19:04is likely to be well over 65 million euros next year.
0:19:04 > 0:19:08I think they're on 30 at the moment.
0:19:08 > 0:19:09That one league with those 14 clubs
0:19:09 > 0:19:12is generating more than the entire turnover of the WRU.
0:19:17 > 0:19:20Boxing Day. The Scarlets are playing regional rivals the Ospreys.
0:19:23 > 0:19:27Few of the capacity crowd seem fazed by the prospect of turning
0:19:27 > 0:19:30their backs on the agreement with the WRU to join
0:19:30 > 0:19:32the English Aviva Premiership instead.
0:19:32 > 0:19:34This is what regional rugby is all about
0:19:34 > 0:19:38and this is what big games are about. And you have big games in the Aviva.
0:19:38 > 0:19:40We want more days like this with good crowds
0:19:40 > 0:19:43and I think the best place for that is in the Aviva.
0:19:43 > 0:19:47There is a lot of politics going on and people have lost sight of the game.
0:19:47 > 0:19:49It's despicable. They need to sort it out.
0:19:49 > 0:19:53It's not fair on the regions, it's not fair on the fans who turn up every week.
0:19:54 > 0:19:58Before kick-off, something Parc y Scarlets has never seen before.
0:19:58 > 0:20:01It's just a protest before the game by the fans.
0:20:01 > 0:20:06Joint protest by Osprey and Scarlet fans, showing that we want
0:20:06 > 0:20:09to support the region's cause in the battle that's going on at present.
0:20:09 > 0:20:11This is for all of us, guys.
0:20:11 > 0:20:15What this means to you guys in here, to the people who work here
0:20:15 > 0:20:18day in, day out, the people who come and watch you play here,
0:20:18 > 0:20:22if you back down 1cm,
0:20:22 > 0:20:24they've won that little battle.
0:20:24 > 0:20:27- You don't- BLEEP- back down today.
0:20:27 > 0:20:29We go after them every single time.
0:20:29 > 0:20:33FANS SING
0:20:42 > 0:20:44What this demonstrates is what it means
0:20:44 > 0:20:49when you've got a fixture with a history and heritage behind it
0:20:49 > 0:20:51and all of the emotion that that creates.
0:20:51 > 0:20:53Go on, Scarlets!
0:20:53 > 0:20:57Scarlets! Scarlets!
0:20:57 > 0:21:01But will the regions be here to play the derby next Christmas?
0:21:01 > 0:21:04Well, I'm not sure there's any guarantee at the moment.
0:21:07 > 0:21:10But 14,000 people in here are hoping that this fixture
0:21:10 > 0:21:14will take place next year, and we've got every intention,
0:21:14 > 0:21:18us Ospreys and Scarlets, that this fixture will take place next year.
0:21:22 > 0:21:26But we've got some way to go still to ensure that, as we stand today.
0:21:26 > 0:21:28- COMMENTATOR:- That's it, the clock is red!
0:21:28 > 0:21:30The last play.
0:21:31 > 0:21:33There's one score in it.
0:21:35 > 0:21:37The Scarlets need a try.
0:21:39 > 0:21:42The Ospreys just have to get the ball off the park.
0:21:44 > 0:21:47- COMMENTATOR:- The whole crowd trying to drive them home.
0:21:52 > 0:21:54Everybody living on their nerves.
0:22:06 > 0:22:13# All the stores were closed and shuttered
0:22:13 > 0:22:15Defeat hurts.
0:22:15 > 0:22:22# All the streets were dark and bare
0:22:22 > 0:22:23And especially at home.
0:22:23 > 0:22:30# In our town oh, scarlet ribbons
0:22:32 > 0:22:39# Not one ribbon for her hair... #
0:22:40 > 0:22:43For the Scarlets, little Christmas cheer.
0:22:43 > 0:22:46And by New Year, they could be out in the cold.
0:22:50 > 0:22:54December 31. Deadline day for signing the agreement.
0:22:54 > 0:22:57The union insists it's the best way forward for Welsh rugby.
0:22:57 > 0:22:59At the Cardiff Blues headquarters,
0:22:59 > 0:23:01the region's executives have gathered.
0:23:01 > 0:23:04I don't think it's the way anybody would choose to spend
0:23:04 > 0:23:05New Year's Eve.
0:23:05 > 0:23:09The individual regions have all had a formal board meeting.
0:23:09 > 0:23:1638 of Wales's most successful businesspeople, lawyers,
0:23:16 > 0:23:17former players...
0:23:21 > 0:23:24..absolutely unanimously...
0:23:26 > 0:23:32..confirming that we cannot, er, sign to extend the legal agreement
0:23:32 > 0:23:36that commits us, at one side, to all of our costs.
0:23:36 > 0:23:40But does not in any way shape or form define any of our incomes
0:23:40 > 0:23:43or competitive platforms the other side.
0:23:43 > 0:23:45It's just completely impossible.
0:23:46 > 0:23:47And at the same time,
0:23:47 > 0:23:52we will be confirming that we have got options available to us now that
0:23:52 > 0:23:54allow us to plan positively forward
0:23:54 > 0:23:57and not just negatively cut costs.
0:23:57 > 0:24:00But the turning of the year is a time to look back
0:24:00 > 0:24:01as well as forward.
0:24:01 > 0:24:05The Parc y Scarlets Heritage Trail is close to opening.
0:24:05 > 0:24:08Hopefully, once the trail opens, people will donate more and more
0:24:08 > 0:24:11of these things, because they really are...
0:24:11 > 0:24:15They're treasured pieces, really, in terms of the story of the club.
0:24:15 > 0:24:18Exactly, I mean, even the bandages have got the plastic still on them
0:24:18 > 0:24:20and everything.
0:24:20 > 0:24:23So, really, really special piece of memorabilia here.
0:24:24 > 0:24:27Amongst the items being dusted off for display is a pair of boots
0:24:27 > 0:24:30once worn by a Llanelli hero.
0:24:30 > 0:24:31Barry John. Amazing.
0:24:34 > 0:24:37Another player from those far-off glory days is still
0:24:37 > 0:24:39with the Scarlets.
0:24:39 > 0:24:42Gareth Jenkins coached Wales too, but he's sceptical
0:24:42 > 0:24:46about the WRU's plans to contract players centrally themselves.
0:24:46 > 0:24:48You have to belong somewhere.
0:24:48 > 0:24:50You have to have an identity.
0:24:50 > 0:24:54And as far as I'm concerned, the Scarlets and Llanelli before it
0:24:54 > 0:24:58has had a strong identity, with a brotherhood relationship,
0:24:58 > 0:25:03to make sure that every player is recognised through his success
0:25:03 > 0:25:05and why he's been successful.
0:25:05 > 0:25:09And he's been successful because of the environment that he has
0:25:09 > 0:25:13grown up in, he's belonged to, he's developed in.
0:25:13 > 0:25:16The WRU is adamant that the loss of big names
0:25:16 > 0:25:18is so damaging that they have to act now.
0:25:18 > 0:25:21But it leaves the players uncertain about the whole question
0:25:21 > 0:25:23of central contracts.
0:25:23 > 0:25:26You're asking the wrong man. I'm not likely to be offered one.
0:25:26 > 0:25:29You better speak to one of these couple here.
0:25:29 > 0:25:32The issue is, nobody really knows what it means.
0:25:32 > 0:25:37We'd just be like an asset, asked to go and play rugby
0:25:37 > 0:25:41and I don't think... If you had people who weren't in love with where
0:25:41 > 0:25:44they were, then you wouldn't have what we love about Welsh rugby.
0:25:44 > 0:25:46Everyone down here, we are all,
0:25:46 > 0:25:49first focus, Scarlets players and then if you are
0:25:49 > 0:25:51fortunate to get selected for your country, that's great.
0:25:51 > 0:25:55But to be associated to a club, that's really important, I think.
0:25:55 > 0:25:57The longer it drags out,
0:25:57 > 0:25:59it's obviously going to be very frustrating.
0:25:59 > 0:26:03I think, you know, both parties are working very hard separately
0:26:03 > 0:26:06but not actually coming together and working together.
0:26:06 > 0:26:09I think that's the difficulty at the moment.
0:26:09 > 0:26:12That's Ken's politics degree coming through there. Very diplomatic.
0:26:12 > 0:26:15It's very difficult to make fully informed decisions
0:26:15 > 0:26:19because there's so many things that we don't know, so many uncertainties
0:26:19 > 0:26:21which I've found difficult.
0:26:21 > 0:26:24It's worried me and it's something that has stressed me out
0:26:24 > 0:26:27quite a bit and I wish it hadn't happened this year of all years
0:26:27 > 0:26:29when I was out of contract,
0:26:29 > 0:26:32but it's got to happen to somebody and I just hope that,
0:26:32 > 0:26:35like Rob says, for the best interests of Welsh rugby
0:26:35 > 0:26:37that it gets sorted.
0:26:42 > 0:26:44And it's not just the players who are worried.
0:26:44 > 0:26:48It is quite difficult with everything that's going on between the regions
0:26:48 > 0:26:53and the WRU on the basis that, from January onwards,
0:26:53 > 0:26:56we usually start thinking about renewals of business clubs,
0:26:56 > 0:26:58sponsors, investors.
0:26:58 > 0:27:03On a personal basis, you do think, "What's going to happen to my job?"
0:27:03 > 0:27:04So you do have those concerns.
0:27:07 > 0:27:10January 31, our year where the Scarlets closes,
0:27:10 > 0:27:12the Heritage Trail opens,
0:27:12 > 0:27:16on interactive tablets the whole history of Llanelli rugby.
0:27:16 > 0:27:19What on earth made this little town in West Wales
0:27:19 > 0:27:22such a cauldron of talent across world rugby?
0:27:23 > 0:27:25It's another deadline day.
0:27:25 > 0:27:29Time, say the regions, to conclude matters with the WRU or move ahead
0:27:29 > 0:27:32with their options of breaking away.
0:27:32 > 0:27:34We're still in the position, we can't run our business,
0:27:34 > 0:27:38we can't launch our season tickets, we can't commit to sponsors,
0:27:38 > 0:27:39I can't even order kit.
0:27:39 > 0:27:41If nothing happens today, we're back to
0:27:41 > 0:27:46having to find a resolution by ourselves, our own way.
0:27:46 > 0:27:50The WRU is urging the Scarlets to strike deals with Scott Williams
0:27:50 > 0:27:52and Rhys Priestland.
0:27:52 > 0:27:54Otherwise, the union will offer them
0:27:54 > 0:27:58central contracts, as they have already done with Sam Warburton.
0:27:58 > 0:28:02Something will have to give very soon.
0:28:02 > 0:28:05We've got to start listening to what people want.
0:28:05 > 0:28:08You know, what do the public want? What do the players want?
0:28:08 > 0:28:11What do the coaches want? What do sponsors want?
0:28:11 > 0:28:12And they want week in, week out
0:28:12 > 0:28:15competitive rugby with attractive features.
0:28:15 > 0:28:18We can't sustain the game on six or seven international days a year,
0:28:18 > 0:28:20fantastic as they are.
0:28:20 > 0:28:24We've got to get the product right week in, week out.
0:28:24 > 0:28:30# If I live to be 200
0:28:30 > 0:28:32A precious past.
0:28:32 > 0:28:34# I will never know
0:28:34 > 0:28:36A precarious future.
0:28:38 > 0:28:42As with so much we treasure in life, we don't yet know how it ends.
0:28:42 > 0:28:50# Those lovely scarlet ribbons
0:28:50 > 0:28:56# Scarlet ribbons for her hair... #