Red letter day for Lee as prop hits landmark

SAMSON Lee will make it a double celebration when he rings up his 150th appearance for the Scarlets, just days after earning a recall to the Wales squad.

The popular tight-head packs down alongside Wyn Jones and Ryan Elias for the Guinness PRO14 date with Glasgow today (5.15pm).

He has played just once for Wales in 20 months, with injuries not helping his cause, but he looked his old self in the Scarlets’ two August derbies and their European Challenge Cup quarter-final against Toulon.

A head injury put him on the sidelines for the game with Munster last weekend, and he was missed, with the Irishmen applying pressure at a number of scrums.

It’s taken Lee nine seasons to reach the 150-game milestone, but he’s only 27 with much still to offer.

Scarlets head coach Glenn Delaney said: “Huge congratulations to Samson on reaching 150 appearances in a Scarlets jersey. He is a huge part of our squad here and a great character to have around the place.

“He has been outstanding for us so far this season and his Wales recall is just rewards for the work he has put in.”

The Scarlets make two other changes from the starting lineup that faced Munster. New Wales squad man Johnny Williams returns in midfield, while Ryan Elias starts at hooker.

Ken Owens is named among the replacements as Jonathan Davies leads the side.

On the challenge of Glasgow, Delaney added: “Obviously after the manner of the defeat to Munster, everyone was hurting, we all felt we did enough to win that match.

“But we will learn from that and are excited by the challenge of going to Scotstoun and taking on a tough Glasgow side. It promises to be a great game between two sides who like to throw the ball about.”

Glasgow opened the PRO14 with a 28-24 defeat against Connacht. Richie Gray will make his 50th appearance in a Warriors jersey should he come off the bench. SCARLETS: Leigh Halfpenny; Tom Rogers, Jonathan Davies (Capt), Johnny Williams, Steff Evans; Dan Jones, Gareth Davies; Wyn Jones, Ryan Elias, Samson Lee, Jake Ball, Sam Lousi, Blade Thomson, Josh Macleod, Sione Kalamafoni. Reps: Ken Owens, Phil Price, Javan Sebastian,

Lewis Rawlins, James Davies, Kieran Hardy, Rhys Patchell, Steff Hughes.