Quins rocked by double departure

CARMARTHEN QUINS remain united despite being rocked by the recent resignations of two club officials after a row over selection for the British & Irish Cup.

Chairman Dorian Taylor and club secretary Don Davies have both quit due to regional influence over the Quins’ campaign – with the Scarlets using the competition to field a largely development XV containing contracted regional and academy players.

Both felt that, having qualified for the group stages, it should in fact be the Premiership side representing the  region – with help from the Scarlets – as is the case with the other three Welsh sides in the competition.

Pontypridd, Aberavon and Cross Keys are also staging all their games on their own grounds, whereas only one of the Quins’ three group games will be played at Carmarthen Park – against holders Leinster A on October 25.

This weekend’s clash with Plymouth is being staged at Parc y Scarlets with the final group game against Jersey on December 13 taking place at Llandovery’s Church Bank.

Just four Carmarthen regulars started the 37-17 Pool Five defeat at Jersey last weekend, with nine players who normally represent Llanelli and two from Llandovery – making up the rest of the side.

However club official Alan Bowen says that, although the departure of two long-standing club stalwarts is regrettable, he feels the furore has been “blown out of all proportion.”

“It’s a pity that it has come to this,” said Bowen.

“We’ve had two serious committee meetings about the matter and the majority – 90 per cent – are in agreement with what the Scarlets are trying to do.

“But, unfortunately, some are not so have taken the decision to step down.

“We’ve got such a good relationship with the Scarlets and we thought it’s not worth jeopardising that for this competition.

“Everybody realises you have to have a parent club and, like everyone else in the division, the regions let us use some of their players. The whole division has prospered from it.

“We certainly wouldn’t be where were are now without the Scarlets and that’s why the system was introduced in the first place – with the talent developing through the academies to the Premiership and then on to the regions and it’s working well.”