Boobyer eyes European glory

Neil Boobyer believes helping to guide Llanelli to Heineken Cup glory would be the achievement of his illustrious career so far, particularly after the semi-final heartbreak of last year.

Boobyer, in his 10th season with the club, was a member of the Scarlets side that won the league and cup double in 1992 and famously beat Australia but he insists success in European club rugby’s most prestigious tournament this year would top even that campaign.

Llanelli were cruelly beaten in the semi-final last season by a giant Tim Stimpson penalty in the closing minutes of the game that bounced off the bar and the upright before falling over.

‘‘Reaching two European semi-finals in the last three years is some achievement. But those moments are obviously heavily tinged with disappointment, because we where knocked out of the tournament each time in two very tight games.

"And the biggest disappointment of my career has to be losing to Leicester in that semi-final last year,‘‘ he said.

‘‘We want to go one better for the fans this season and lift the Heineken Cup.

‘‘The 1992-93 season has to contain the best moment of my career so far, when we beat Australia at Stradey Park and we also won the league and cup that year.

‘‘But if there’s anything that’s going to beat that, it will be lifting the Heineken Cup trophy and that’s something we are all going for this time around.’’

Llanelli will play Leeds Tykes in Boobyer’s testimonial on August 17 in the build-up to the new season as the club look to defend their Welsh/Scottish League title and push for European honours.

And Boobyer is convinced the club have the squad in place to challenge again on all fronts.

‘‘There is hot competition for places again this year with Matt Cardey back from injury and Matthew Watkins signing for us from Newport,‘‘ he said.

‘‘But it’s all about strength in depth in the squad these days and if I play well in the first part of the season I’ll get my share of games.

‘‘I’m really enjoying my rugby at the moment and I have a good couple of years left in me, besides I haven’t satisfied my ambitions for European success yet.’’