Today's rugby news as Scotland international claims Wales legends were let down by fans and head coach joins Dragons

These are your rugby headlines on Friday, May 17

Wales legends let down by fans - Barclay

Former Scarlets star John Barclay says the regions' departing players were let down by fans after their exits were confirmed.

Barclay, who made 108 appearances for the Welsh side, claimed the likes of Ken Owens, Scott Williams and Jonathan Davies - who have all been confirmed as leaving the region at the end of this season - "deserved way more" from supporters as they were given the opportunity to say their farewells following their clash with Ulster at the weekend.

However, the stadium was only half full for the clash and the former Scotland captain admitted he "couldn't get his head around" what he viewed as an underwhelming send-off for the "club legends".

"I'll probably get criticised for this, but I don't really care," said Barclay on Premier Sports' URC Unloaded podcast. "I know there's loads going on in Welsh rugby, but look at the guys leaving Scarlets, like Ken Owens, Scott Williams, Jonathan Davies. They're British & Irish Lions, club legends, and you get, I don't know, five or six thousand [fans] at their last game.

"You talk about a club at the heart of where it is... I just can't get my head around that. I think those guys deserve way more than that. I look at my last game there, a couple of the guys were leaving and the stadium was packed. Not because it was us, because the region were doing well.

"But I think those guys deserved it more. It's easy to say 'Oh, they're not doing very well', but Ken Owens has been there for like 45 years or something. I was a bit disappointed by that."

Wales international Tom Shanklin concurred, adding: "I agree with you, mate. They were proper legends that were there and they deserved a full stadium for their send-off."

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Head coach joins Dragons academy

Bargoed RFC head coach Jack Condy has left his role to take up a position as senior coach at the Dragons academy.

Condy impressed at Bargoed during his first season, steering the club to the top of the Championship East table with 99 points, 18 more than their nearest rivals Cardiff Met. However an opportunity has come up at the Dragons and he has opted to take up the post.

Bargoed said in a statement: "He leaves with the support and best wishes of the whole club, and Jack addressed the players, coaches, committee and supporters at a meeting this evening.

"Bargoed RFC wish Jack all the best in his new role and it’s great to see him progressing on his coaching journey down the road in the professional environment of the Dragons.

"There is no doubt that he will thrive and add significant value in his new role at the Dragons. Well done Jack and thank you for all your hard work. We are proud to have played a small part in your development on your coaching journey."

Meanwhile, Dragons coach Dai Flanagan says the region are "close to getting stuff done" as they target signing another playmaker.

The club have already made five signings ahead of next season, with former Wales U20s hooker Oli Burrows joining from Exeter earlier this week. He follows Welsh forward Shane Lewis-Hughes, Tongan international Solomone Funaki and Australian duo Harry Wilson and Steve Cummins to Rodney Parade.

South African back Chris Hollis and former Cardiff and Ospreys prop Dmitri Arhip have also joined on short-term deals that are likely to be extended into the new campaign.

However, while Flanagan is keen to stress that the region aren't flush with cash, he is looking to get even more business done in the coming weeks, with a signing who can play at fly-half or full-back his main priority. Will Reed has been the Dragons' main playmaker this season, with Angus O'Brien and Cai Evans both suffering injury blows.

“There are a couple spaces that I still want to fill and we are close to getting stuff done, then we will be all set to go," said the coach. "We have a little bit of business to do, a little bit in the backroom staff, and then ideally we would like another 10/15 because we are light there.

“There is a group of our [academy] players ready to step up to give us depth and then we are adding experience.”

Scarlets will turn corner - Phillips

Former Wales hooker Emyr Phillips has insisted the Scarlets can recover from what will inevitably end as the worst season in their history.

The west Wales region have only won three matches in their whole campaign - in both the URC and Europe combined - with just two games to go. Even if they beat Zebre and the Dragons, they can only get to five victories, three fewer than they managed in all competitions in 2021-22.

Head coach Dwayne Peel’s men have won only once in their last 14 games, but Phillips - who is one of Peel’s assistants at Parc y Scarlets - believes things will improve.

“In a lot of games, we have found it hard to turn things around when the momentum has gone against us,” said Phillips. “It’s been a tough season, but we're not making any excuses. We've got a young group which has had a lot of minutes this year, but we can't hide away from the fact that we've been disappointed with the season.

“So, we're looking to build some momentum now towards the end and look to fire us into a shorter pre-season. The tough start of the year has probably affected us, maybe a bit more than we've realised," he added. “But as tough as it's been, those boys are going to be better for it. Maybe, sometimes it doesn't feel like it, but the experiences some of the younger boys have had this year is only going to be good for them.”

The good news for the Scarlets is that they will be favourites to beat Zebre in Parma on Friday night as the Italians have only won once in the URC and are rock bottom. Despite their poor recent record, Welsh bookmakers DragonBet make the Scarlets narrow favourites to win at 8/13, with the hosts at 11/8.

England star ends speculation

By Andrew Baldock, PA Rugby Union Correspondent

Henry Slade has handed Exeter and England a huge boost after pledging his playing future to the Chiefs.

The 31-year-old centre had been subject to speculation that he could head to France, joining players such as fellow England internationals Henry Arundell, Jack Willis and Joe Marchant. The likes of former England captain Owen Farrell, Bristol prop Kyle Sinckler and Northampton skipper Lewis Ludlam are set to follow suit this summer and play Top 14 rugby next season.

Current regulations do not allow players plying their trade abroad to be selected by England head coach Steve Borthwick. But Slade, who has been in blistering form this term for club and country, is staying put with a new Chiefs contract.

He has driven Exeter's Gallagher Premiership play-off push - a bonus-point victory over Leicester on Saturday could see them secure a top-four finish - and is also the league's leading points scorer. Slade made his Chiefs debut 12 years ago, featuring 230 times in Exeter colours, while he has also won 62 England caps.

"There were a lot of factors behind my decision to stay at Exeter Chiefs," he said. "I joined the academy at 18, so the club is all I have ever really known as a professional rugby player. I feel very lucky to be able to say I have represented the club over 200 times.

"I call Exeter my home. I've started a young family here - my eldest daughter starts school in September - so it just felt right to stay. The club has been my whole adult life, so I just didn't feel like it was time to go.

"There is an extremely strong group coming through now, and I am relishing being one of the senior boys in among a group with so much potential to do some great things.

"Wanting to see what I could achieve with a new group did serve as a bit of a refreshener, as it posed a new challenge. I have been here for 12 years with a lot of the same faces, and it felt like a very different club this year. Coming into pre-season, it was an exciting challenge."