Wales pair Leigh Halfpenny and Rhys Patchell are among 15 players who will leave the Scarlets at the end of the season.
With playing budgets going down in Wales next season, all four regions are having to cut their cloth accordingly which means cutting the size of their squads.
Metronomic goal kicker Halfpenny joined the west Walians from Toulon six years ago and has scored 526 points in 58 games while talented outside-half Patchell was a key component of the side which won the PRO12 title back in 2017.
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Patchell has suffered a series of injuries over the past few seasons which have limited the number of games he has been able to play for the Scarlets. In his absence, Sam Costelow has made the No. 10 jersey his own while the prodigiously talented Ioan Lloyd will join from Bristol Bears next season.
While the Scarlets will miss the experience of Halfpenny, they do have Wales international Johnny McNicholl on contract for next season while Tom Rogers is highly rated by the coaching staff at the club.
It is unclear where both players will be playing their rugby next season, although Patchell has been linked with a move back to Cardiff.
The Scarlets will also lose influential No. 8 Sione Kalamafoni to French Pro D2 outfit Vannes, while Scotland international prop Javan Sebastian is joining Edinburgh.
Arguably the biggest blow is the retirement of the 27-cap Wales blindside Aaron Shingler, who has given 15 years of service to the club and is considered one of the best lineout forwards in the business.
Scrum-half Dane Blacker will also leave to join the Dragons although the Scarlets are strong in this position, with experienced pair Gareth Davies and Kieran Hardy along with Wales U20s starlets Archie Hughes and Harri Williams on their books.
Wider squad members Lewis Rawlins, Taylor Davies, Dafydd Hughes, Corey Baldwin, WillGriff John, Iestyn Rees, Tom Price and Alex Jeffries are also leaving.
This comes on the back of the retirements of Scotland international Blade Thomson and second-row Josh Helps earlier on in the season, while Argentinian loose-forward Tomas Lezana was recently released from his contract to sign for French club Montauban.
“It is always tough to make this announcement, all the players have given so much to the jersey during their time here," said Scarlets head coach Dwayne Peel.
“Players like Shings, Leigh and Patch have played massive parts in Scarlets successes in the league and in Europe over the years; Lewis Rawlins is a club centurion, while Phil Price, Tom Price, Dane and Sione have played more than a half century of matches.
"Every player has been committed Scarlets during their time here and I thank them all for their contributions and also for the professional manner in which they have handled what has been a difficult process this season. Our best wishes go out to them all for what comes next.
“I am sure all will have fond memories of this place and all will want to help us finish this season by being part of a squad that wins a European trophy.”
As is Scarlets tradition after the final home game of the season, the departing players will receive a presentation in front of the supporters following next Saturday’s Challenge Cup semi-final against Glasgow Warriors.
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