Scarlets have released prop Chris Apoua after he suffered a torn Achilles tendon during training. The 34-year-old joined the Llanelli-based team in August from the Super Rugby club Moana Pasifika but will now miss the entire 2026-7 season due to the injury. The club has confirmed that Apoua will return to New Zealand and has wished him well with his recovery. With Apoua’s departure, director of rugby Nigel Davies is now looking to strengthen the front-row options for the upcoming United Rugby Championship (URC) season. Current senior tight-heads include Australian Archer Holz and Wales internationals Henry Thomas and Harri O’Connor, with Jac Pritchard and Yestyn Cook available as backups. Wales back-row forward Taine Plumtree will miss the start of the season following shoulder surgery in the summer. However, he is aiming to return before the Nations Championship, targeting a return in time for two matches in South Africa—against Stormers on 24 October and Bulls on 31 October. Before that, Scarlets have four fixtures, including URC matches against Cardiff, Dragons, and Benetton, as well as a Challenge Cup opener against Newcastle Red Bulls. Centre Johnny Williams also had shoulder surgery in the summer and is expected to return in October. Fly-half Carwyn Leggatt-Jones, who suffered a quad injury during the World Rugby U20 Championship, is set to support Wales internationals Sam Costelow and Gareth Anscombe this season. However, promising playmaker Elis Price is likely to miss the 2026-7 season after undergoing surgery for ruptured knee ligaments. Wales flanker Josh Macleod will continue as Scarlets’ club captain for a fourth consecutive season. The team’s pre-season schedule includes three friendly matches: a game against Exeter at Sandy Park on Saturday (15:00 BST), a match against Dragons in Llandovery on Friday, 11 September (19:00 BST), and a game against Saracens in Llanelli on Friday, 18 September (19:30 BST). Scarlets will begin their URC campaign with a home derby against Cardiff on Saturday, 26 September (19:45 BST).