The one thing that ‘reluctant hero’ won’t do after taking over the ‘blood on the streets’ Scarlets

A House of Luxury Group official has named the one thing they haven’t considered following their acquisition of a controlling 55 per cent stake in the Scarlets, the Welsh regional rugby strugglers.

It was last Friday when it emerged that HOL were taking over the day-to-day management of the Llanelli club, depending on the outcome of the soon-to-be-conducted Welsh Rugby Union review.

Simon Kozlowski, the company’s chief experience officer, has now given an interview to BBC Radio Wales. While he believes the takeover will lead to the “most positive social change” regarding the club, he drew a line regarding the suggestion that Scarlets will ultimately merge with Ospreys, their nearby rivals.

Amid speculation that the cash-strapped Welsh regional rugby set-up could be cut from four to two clubs and result in just one west Wales-based franchise, the Ospreys were in the headlines at the start of last week after they were granted permission by Swansea Council’s planning committee for redevelopment work at St Helen’s.

“We’re the new meat on the chopping board here…”

The Ospreys are hoping to move into the ground before the end of 2025 following their decision to exit their current home at the Swansea.com Stadium, but the news that they have got the desired planning permission was gazumped some days later by Scarlets’ takeover.

If the WRU ultimately decide to go with two professional sides, likely, there will only be room for one side in West Wales, making an Ospreys and Scarlets merger a potential option. But this is something HOL haven’t considered.

“Honestly,  no,” said Kozlowski when asked about the possibility of the Scarlets and Ospreys clubbing together as one. “We just really haven’t given much thought and energy to a merger situation because in terms of plan A, B, C and D, it is probably at the lower end of the alphabet for us.

“Friday was day one for us in all reality. There will be other conversations to be had here. We are the new meat on the chopping board here, so we are going to have to have some conversations with the various stakeholders.

“But for now, we haven’t even gotten to thinking about mergers. That’s so low on our wish list and desire list. You are going to need some very persuasive people with some very elegant words to bring us onside with that one.”

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Despite the gloomy outlook in Welsh rugby, Kozlowski believes this is the perfect time for HOL to come on board and drive the Scarlets. “We tend to go where there is blood on the streets because we think that is an opportunity for the most positive social change.

“We are a bit like Rockefeller. Not in our money – we don’t have that much money yet – but we like to get in when everyone is getting out and we like to get out when everyone is getting in.

“There is massive value in Welsh rugby to be preserved, to be sustained, to be increased and shared with the surrounding communities. We were waiting for a long time for someone to do that.

“We come to the forefront here as something of a reluctant hero because we were waiting for somebody else to wear the cape, and they wouldn’t. We are stepping in based on what we believe in.”

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