SCARLETS: New signing Tom Allen goes straight into South Africa squad as Costelow, Elias and three more Wales internationals stay home

New signing Tom Allen goes straight into the squad for back-to-back URC games in South Africa, days after arriving in west Wales.

The 6ft 6in lock signed from the Hurricanes in the summer, and has just finished the New Zealand provincial season with Hawke’s Bay.

But Sam Costelow and Ryan Elias are among five players the Scarlets are leaving at home.

Eddie James, Ellis Mee and Blair Murray will also miss the trip. The club says all five are having a planned period of recovery after their international commitments and the opening weeks of the season.

All five are in Steve Tandy’s Wales squad for November’s three home Tests.

Costelow and Elias were both forced off in Saturday’s 47-14 win over Newcastle. Costelow went off with what appeared to be a hamstring problem, and Elias went off for a head injury assessment.

Captain Josh Macleod, who also went off three minutes from the end, is fit to travel and leads the 30-man squad.

Corey Domachowski back for the Stormers and Bulls

Prop Corey Domachowski is back after the chest injury he suffered against Saracens in pre-season. Dwayne Peel said last week he hoped Domachowski would make the trip.

Full-back Isaac Murray-Macgregor, who joined from the Crusaders pathway in the summer, is chasing his first URC appearance for the region.

Taine Plumtree and Joe Hawkins, the other two Scarlets in the Wales squad, both travel. So does Macs Page, who was left out of Tandy’s squad.

‘A growing confidence and belief’

Director of rugby Nigel Davies says back-to-back wins have lifted the squad. “We’ve had a positive couple of weeks with the wins over Benetton and Newcastle, and there’s a growing confidence and belief in what we’re trying to achieve,” he said.

“We’ve worked hard to strengthen the squad and create genuine competition for places, and I think we’re beginning to see the benefits of that.

“It gives us options on how we approach games, and the players are pushing each other hard, and that competition is helping raise standards.”

He is pleased to have two forwards to add. “It’s great to have Corey back. He brings real quality and experience to our front row, while Tom Allen is an exciting addition who will give us another big, athletic option in the second row,” he said.

Stormers in Cape Town, then the Bulls in Pretoria

“We are looking forward to the challenge of taking on two of the best sides in the URC,” Davies said. “We’ve got a number of players who have worked extremely hard to get themselves into contention, and I’m looking forward to seeing them take their opportunities.”

The Scarlets face the Stormers in Cape Town on Saturday, 24 October (4pm), then the Bulls in Pretoria on Saturday, 31 October.

Scarlets squad for the Stormers and Bulls

Forwards: Kemsley Mathias, Sam O’Connor, Corey Domachowski, John McKee, George Roberts, Isaac Young, Harri O’Connor, Henry Thomas, Gabe Hawley, Tom Allen, Sam Lousi, Alex Groves, Harvey Cuckson, Dan Davis, Josh Macleod (capt), Taine Plumtree, Fletcher Anderson.

Backs: Gareth Davies, Dane Blacker, Archie Hughes, Gareth Anscombe, Carwyn Leggatt-Jones, Johnny Williams, Joe Hawkins, Joe Roberts, Gabe McDonald, Macs Page, Isaac Murray-Macgregor, Ioan Jones, Ioan Nicholas.