Scarlets skipper Jonathan Davies excited about new season

Scarlets skipper Jonathan Davies is excited about the new season of the United Rugby Championship which kicks-off next week.

Davies missed Wales' summer tour of South Africa but now is looking to overcome the disappointment with a strong performance for Scarlets with a hope to make it to the World Cup squad next year.

“Since getting back into pre-season I have loved it. We have been challenged at the Scarlets and the boys have reacted well and we are in a pretty good place,” he told during the launch of the competition this week.

“It is the first time I have not toured or been injured since 2009 so it was quite refreshing.

“Obviously I would have loved to have gone on tour (with Wales), but I maximised the opportunity to look after myself and get away and recharge.

“Pre-season does not get any easier but hearing 20-year-olds complaining about being tired in their legs, I’m like ‘you’re having a laugh’.

"What is good and the challenge for me is I am still competitive with them even though I have a number of years on them, I still want to push myself to be the best in training and set the standards. I enjoy that aspect of it and it’s been good."

Scarlets will kick-start their United Rugby Championship campaign with a clash against Ospreys on 17th September.

“It is an exciting fixture to start,” added Davies.

“We played them at the end of the year last season and at half-time we probably thought the job was done.

“Credit to them they gave us a proper hiding in the second half and that hurt. To have the opportunity first game up to go against your local rivals is great.

“It will really give us a sighter of where we are at and hopefully all this hard work will ensure we are in a good spot.

“It’s a great occasion, we have a decent kick-off time so hopefully we can get a good crowd in. It is an exciting fixture.”