Image source, Huw Evans Picture AgencyImage caption, Sam Costelow joined Scarlets from Leicester
ByGareth GriffithsBBC Sport Wales- Published16 October 2026
European Challenge Cup
Scarlets (26) 47
Tries: Costelow, Anderson, J Williams, G Davies, Mee, Page 2 Cons: Costelow 2, Hawkins 4
Newcastle Red Bulls (0) 14
Tries: Spencer, Leatherbarrow Con: Hodge 2
Scarlets cantered to a seven-try bonus-point European Challenge Cup win against Newcastle Red Bulls, but fly-half Sam Costelow has given Wales coach Steve Tandy an injury concern.
Costelow scored the opening try only to limp off with a hamstring problem later in the first half, just three days before Tandy names his squad for next month's Autumn Nations Championship campaign.
Wales hopeful Macs Page scored two tries on his 50th appearance, while number eight Fletcher Anderson, centre Johnny Williams, scrum-half Gareth Davies and wing Ellis Mee also crossed as Scarlets began their European campaign in style.
It was an unsuccessful return to Llanelli for former Scarlets and Wales fly-half Stephen Jones, who is now a Newcastle assistant coach and locked horns against his former half-back partner Dwayne Peel.
Newcastle responded with late tries from Oliver Spencer and Ollie Leatherbarrow as they suffered a fourth successive defeat following three losses in the Prem.
Friends reunited as Scarlets soar in first half
Image source, Huw Evans Picture AgencyImage caption, Stephen Jones and Dwayne Peel played together for Scarlets, Wales and the British and Irish Lions
In front of a crowd of 5,629, Anderson and Davies, who impressed as replacements in the 27-26 win against Benetton, made first starts of the season.
Newcastle fielded a much-changed side as they gave debuts to wing Brandon Jackson and Argentina prop Francisco Moreno, while 18-year-old Scottish fly-half Jake Dalziel started.
Full-back Blair Murray provided the first inspirational moment with a 60-metre counter-attacking run but the move came to nothing.
Despite having early treatment, Costelow opened the scoring with an opportunistic individual try, gliding through the heart of the Newcastle defence.
Scrum-half Davies, who has been tipped for a Wales recall if he decides to reverse his international retirement, provided the catalyst for the second score when his clever cross-kick was gathered by Mee who was dragged down just short of the line before Anderson charged over.
A well-worked third try saw lock Alex Groves power through the visitors' defence before providing the try-scoring pass to centre Williams.
Scarlets' indiscipline, with infringements including backchat to the referee and kicking the ball away, provided Newcastle with an attacking platform, but they could not capitalise.
Joe Hawkins came on for Costelow and converted the fourth try scored by Davies, following a fine Mee break.
Plumtree returns as hosts make numbers tells
The hosts led 26-0 at half-time and had the luxury of bringing on Wales back rower Taine Plumtree to make his first appearance of the season after recovering from shoulder surgery.
Captain Josh Macleod continued his impressive start to the season as he repeatedly demonstrated his ability to turnover possession to put his side on the front foot.
Newcastle replacement prop Murray McCallum was shown a yellow card and Scarlets took advantage of the extra player by working the ball to Mee in the right corner.
Scarlets were rampant and scored straight from the restart after breaks from Anderson and centre Joe Roberts paved the way for Page to collect a grubber kick and sprint over unopposed.
A second for Page soon followed as he followed up Mee's well-measured inside kick before Newcastle finally responded with an opportunist effort from replacement Spencer before Leatherbarrow completed the scoring.
With only one game in the first European block before the next round of matches in December, Scarlets face a tough United Rugby Championship (URC) double-header in South Africa against Stormers and Bulls, while Newcastle return to action in the Prem when they host Sale next Saturday.
Line-ups
Scarlets: Murray; Mee, Roberts, Williams, Page; Costelow, G Davies; Mathias, McKee, Harri O'Connor, Cuckson, Groves, Lousi, Macleod (capt), Anderson.
Replacements: Elias, Sam O'Connor, Hawley, Plumtree, Davis, Blacker, Hawkins, James.
Newcastle: Hodge; Ene, Harris, Hutchison, Jackson; Dalziel, Elliott; West, Fletcher, Moreno, Baker, Molina, Ferrie, Leatherbarrow, Graham (capt).
Replacements: Adejimi, Brocklebank, McCallum, Usher, Hicks, Benitez Cruz, Connon, Spencer.
Sin-bin: McCallum 54
Referee: Evan Urruzmendi (France)
Assistant referees: Anthony Lac & Ludovic Lespes (France)
TMO: Jean Lespes.
