HEAD coach Dwayne Peel has made two changes to his Scarlets starting XV for Friday’s BKT United Rugby Championship round 17 clash with Zebre Parma at the Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi (19:35 BBC Wales).

Alex Craig has recovered from a hamstring issue to take his place in the second row, while behind the scrum Ioan Lloyd replaces fellow Wales international Sam Costelow at fly-half.

Ioan Nicholas, Tomi Lewis and Ryan Conbeer continue in the back three; Johnny Williams again partners Eddie James, while Lloyd links up with the experienced Gareth Davies at half-back.

In the pack, the front row of Kemsley Mathias, skipper Ryan Elias and Harri O’Connor get the nod to start again. Craig partners Morgan Jones at lock, while Taine Plumtree, Dan Davis and No. 8 Carwyn Tuipulotu are selected in the back row.

On the bench, Wales U20s centre Macs Page – part of Llandovery’s Indigo Premiership title-winning side last weekend – is set to make his URC debut.

Scarlets scrum and contact skills coach Emyr Phillips said: “We are looking to build some momentum in these last two games to fire us into pre-season. We are encouraging the boys to play high-tempo rugby and get the ball moving because that’s when we are at our best. We know Zebre will bring emotion to the game and we need to match that.”

Scarlets team to play Zebre Parma at Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi on Friday, May 17 (19:35; BBC Wales)

15 Ioan Nicholas; 14 Tomi Lewis, 13 Johnny Williams, 12 Eddie James, 11 Ryan Conbeer; 10 Ioan Lloyd, 9 Gareth Davies; 1 Kemsley Mathias, 2 Ryan Elias (capt), 3 Harri O’Connor, 4 Alex Craig, 5 Morgan Jones, 6 Taine Plumtree, 7 Dan Davis, 8 Carwyn Tuipulotu.

Reps: 16 Shaun Evans, 17 Wyn Jones, 18 Sam Wainwright, 19 Jarrod Taylor, 20 Ben Williams, 21 Kieran Hardy, 22 Sam Costelow, 23 Macs Page

Players unavailable because of injury

Tom Rogers, Sam Lousi, Vaea Fifita, Steff Evans, Joe Roberts, Josh Macleod, Teddy Leatherbarrow, Jac Davies.

A WEST WALES couple who scooped £1M on EuroMillions say one of the most important benefits of their win is to give them more time, to enjoy with family and friends, and importantly, with their honey bees.

And for Jeff (60) and Davinia Pritchard (58), this extra time has meant life really is sweet as they’ve dedicated even more hours to expanding their bee ‘empire’, improving quality of life for themselves, and the local bee population. 

The couple, from Carmarthenshire, who won £1M in a EuroMillions Millionaire Maker draw in June 2015 had always loved to keep bees and found their perfect zen time to be spent channelling their love for the environment and all things home and locally produced.

And today – thanks to their National Lottery win – they have been able to grow their small honey bee empire with more than ten hives producing delicious local honey. 

Davinia said, “One of the most important things our win has bought us is time – time for us to pursue a hobby we love and maintain the land to ensure it’s the best environment for our bees, and us! Pottering about at home definitely brings us just as much joy as the new cars and exotic holidays we’ve been able to enjoy.”

Jeff continues, “I’ve always loved being outdoors with my bees, and our win made that easier to do! I was able to retire early, giving me more time to spend with the family, but also time for the simple things in life like tending to my bees and improving the land around our home to ensure a truly bee-friendly environment. As a result, the hives are thriving, our home looks amazing and we are producing plenty of lovely local honey!

Davina adds, “our bee adventure actually started well before the win, when Jeff decided to build an ornamental beehive for the garden, and then figured if he had the hive he ought to get some bees. We’d never have imagined that 20 years down the line we’d have won on The National Lottery and be living the good life.”

When Jeff and Davinia Pritchard won the life-changing sum of money they were working full time, Jeff as a works manager for a UK Modular Building Manufacturer and Davinia as a coordinator for the Welsh Ambulance Service. And while they were already living in their dream home, they thought that they would be selling it to fund their retirement. That all changed the day Jeff checked a message from The National Lottery and discovered that instead of the usual £6.40 they’d won £1M. Davinia told The Herald:“Before we won, we already felt we’d hit the jackpot having bought our dream cottage with some land for the bees, but there was lots of work still to do and we considered it our retirement plan, sadly not a forever home. 

“Then, thanks to that dose of Lottery luck, we were able to clear the mortgage and complete the renovation works that we had started sooner than planned so that we had more space for the family and can make the most of the garden, and views across the paddock to the beehives. 

“During the pandemic I was still working and being able to come home here to recharge and forget the horrors of the day was utterly priceless; it really is our own slice of heaven. Alongside the bees we have a small flock of Jacob sheep who make the most of the land we have, and while we enjoy the basics of shepherding, after an entertaining first attempt we now leave the shearing to the local professionals!”

Making the most of the great outdoors is so important to the couple who met at school and were married at 18. Jeff is a keen walker and has summited most of Wales’ and UK mountains while since her recent retirement, Davinia has finally summited South Wales’ highest peak, Pen Y Fan. Davina comments, 

“That’s just one of the many bonuses that has come from our lucky win. Before the win I couldn’t have dreamt that I would ever have been able to afford the professional help I needed to lose weight and join a lovely gym that is helping me to get fit. Having finally reached the top of Pen y Fan, I’m literally at my peak fitness!”

By playing any National Lottery game, players generate £30M each week for National Lottery-funded projects. This money helps fund projects across the nation, with over 685,000 grants – supporting projects both big and small – having been made across the UK to date.

Players can buy and check their tickets online by downloading the National Lottery app or at national-lottery.co.uk. Players can also buy and check tickets in retail. Playing online via the app or website means that your ticket is checked, and you get an email notification if you win a prize. You can also scan your retail tickets on the National Lottery app to check if you’re a winner.

THE PEMBROKESHIRE LIBRARY SERVICE is a well-used and much loved service, which is available to everyone. However, we need to make changes to this service to reduce its cost as part of wider measures to reduce costs across all of Pembrokeshire County Council’s services.

Public Library Services across the UK are having to make difficult budget decisions, and we are no exception.

New Council Leader Cllr Jon Harvey said: “Like every department in the Council, we have to reduce our costs. It is imperative that we do so with a full understanding of what people need from our Library Services so that we can focus the resources that we have on those in most need.

“As such, we are launching an extensive Library Needs Assessment exercise, which will include public meetings, focus groups, one-to-one discussions with key stakeholders and a survey. This is an opportunity for local people to help us to shape the future of libraries in the county.”

Cllr Harvey added: “Nine years ago, the Library Service faced similar budget challenges and undertook a similar Needs Assessment. That work led to the creation of a number of important partnerships with local communities and Town and Community Councils, which helped to protect libraries from closure.

“I am confident that by working together again, and getting an up-to-date understanding of people’s needs, we can find a way through this new challenge which will allow us to continue to provide services for all our population while in particular, protecting the most vulnerable.”

An extensive programme of engagement with residents, community groups and stakeholders will start from Wednesday, 15th May and will run through until 6th August.

This consists of:

• A questionnaire survey available online and in paper copy (from libraries and other front facing PCC service points such as leisure centres and the archives)
• Six public meetings across the county during June – dates and venues information is below
• A range of focus groups and one to one conversations with key stakeholders

All feedback received will be properly considered, and the findings will be used to help us to develop options, which we will formally consult on later in the year.

Public meetings are planned for:

Monday 10^th June, Fishguard Town Hall, 6.30-8.30pm

Wednesday 12^th June, County Hall, Haverfordwest, 6.30-8.30pm

Monday 17^th June, Pembroke Town Hall, Main Street, 6.30-8.30pm

Wednesday 19^th June, Pater Hall, Pembroke Dock, 6.30-8.30pm

Tuesday 25^th June, Greenhill Centre, Tenby, 6.30-8.30pm

Thursday 27^th June, Milford Haven Library, Cedar Court, 6.30-8.30pm

These meetings are open to anyone who wishes to attend.

Booking is not essential, but it would help us greatly if we have a rough estimate of expected numbers, so if possible, please could you register your interest in advance online, anytime after 20th May. Thank you.