Mike Phillips To Come Out of Retirement for Scarlets

Mike Phillips is set to line out for Scarlets as short-term injury cover this weekend in their PRO14 encounter with the Southern Kings in Port Elizabeth.

The former Wales & British & Irish Lions scrum-half hung up his boots at the end of last season but he is expected to feature on the bench for Wayne Pivac's defending champions.

The West Wales region are due to play Southern Kings on Sunday before travelling to Bloemfontein to take on the Toyota Cheetahs over the coming two weekends.

Phillips is currently living in Dubai and will travel to South Africa to meet up with his teammates on Thursday ahead of Sunday's PRO14 encounter.

First choice scrum-halves Gareth & Aled Davies are currently on international duty as they prepare to face the All Blacks, while their fourth-choice Declan Smith went down with an ankle injury in the AW Cup.

Jonathan Evans is the region's only fit scrumhalf at the moment; Scarlets head coach said:

'It's just been one of those things. We looked at the nines available to us within the region, and Welsh qualified players in the Championship, but they were unable to travel due to work'

The 35-year-old played 94 times for Wales and appeared in five Tests for the British & Irish Lions before bringing the curtain down on his illustrious career in 2016.