Ospreys being dumped owners to buy Cardiff blues

Know that might just wind up the Swansea city fans that will put our rivalry with up a notch or to I find it hilarious

Clearly, they see the ‘value’ in relocating to the Welsh capital and all its advantages!

Them ‘Jacks’ (most of whom are reformed ‘eggers’) will be livid!

Don't follow rugby much.

But wasn't there a thing where one of the clubs in Wales were going to cease to exist? Maybe this secures the Blues future. I say that with knowing limited stuff about rugby these days!

My personal opinion is that it was great news when the Blues stopped playing at CCS.

Swansea's local authority is considering legal action amid growing doubts over the future of the Ospreys while players say they have been "kept in the dark" over the region's fate.

Uncertainty has arisen after Ospreys owners – Y11 Sports & Media – emerged as the preferred bidders in a deal to buy rivals Cardiff from the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU).

It has sparked concern among supporters who fear it could mean the end of the region as the WRU prepares to reduce the number of professional sides from four to three.

There has been no comment from the Ospreys, Y11, or the WRU on the matter, nor from Wales head coach Steve Tandy as he named seven Ospreys players in his squad for the upcoming Six Nations.

A number of Ospreys players, including Wales captains Jac Morgan and Dewi Lake and internationals Sam Parry, Dan Edwards and Gareth Thomas, have shared a statement on social media which says: "We have been left in the dark by the WRU and Y11.

"We ourselves have had no information regarding the ongoing situation. We struggle to believe the most successful Welsh team to exist with the biggest history is on the brink of non-existence."

Local Labour MP Torsten Bell also criticised the WRU on social media adding he was "urgently writing to Y11 to call for a meeting to clarify their intentions".

And the leader of Swansea council said that they would explore "all options – including legal action – to safeguard the future of regional rugby in Swansea."

We are there capital best they must see buying cardiff blues is a better investment than the ospreys

Its batshit crazy. I still watch a bit of rugby and will do a few alldayers watching the 6N's on the box when it doesn't clash with city.

The problem is a lot of rugby fans still believe the BS of the "national game" put out by the Western Mail and BBC back in the day.
In Wales rugby has great community support, but skips semi and professional rugby and goes straight the Wales.

Only the dragon marginally get higher attendance than county. Where as City and the Jacks get multiples or their rugby counterparts, the same but on a smaller scale in Merthyr.

IMO let the 4 region go back to clubs in the semi pro SRC and form 2 WRU franchises franchises in Cardiff and Swansea.

Its batshit crazy. I still watch a bit of rugby and will do a few alldayers watching the 6N's on the box when it doesn't clash with city.

The problem is a lot of rugby fans still believe the BS of the "national game" put out by the Western Mail and BBC back in the day.
In Wales rugby has great community support, but skips semi and professional rugby and goes straight the Wales.

Only the dragon marginally get higher attendance than county. Where as City and the Jacks get multiples or their rugby counterparts, the same but on a smaller scale in Merthyr.

IMO let the 4 region go back to clubs in the semi pro SRC and form 2 WRU franchises franchises in Cardiff and Swansea.

The problem you got is that they already are semi pro teams, you’ve Got Cardiff RFC, Swansea and Newport who already play in the semi pro leagues

If the.money is not in the game then I'm not sure what the fans are complaining about.

If Swansea Council want a team then they should fund it instead of the WRU.

Can't the game revert to the club format instead of regions? Professional, semi Pro and Amateur all in a league system.

Let the best players either stay with the pro Welsh teams or play in England.... its what Welsh footballers do.

Simple rationale for their bid! WRU want 3 regions one in the west...in Cardiff...in the east
West is scarlets East is dragons and of course Cardiff so no room for ospreys ...
Buying Cardiff means it's not owned by WRU ..its a stitch up by WRU with ospreys the fall guys and nothing Swansea Council can do about it .

The Welsh Rugby Union has been warned it is out of touch with fans after facing questions in parliament over its aims to cut a professional team.

Chair Richard Collier-Keywood and chief executive Abi Tierney were both quizzed on controversial plans to reduce the number of regional sides to three.

But they were given a stark message from the Welsh Affairs Select Committee after evidence was heard from supporters representing the four teams in the current set-up.

"By going down the path of losing a professional team, the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) risks throwing the baby out with the bath water and alienating supporters," a statement from the cross-party group read.

"There seems to be an immense disconnect between the WRU and fans. [They] need to do more to bring people with them and communicate that it has a vision for a successful future for Welsh rugby - from the grassroots through to the top of the professional game."

The committee did acknowledge the financial challenges that the WRU has faced, with Collier-Keywood using the session to confirm a major restructuring of finances.

The WRU had taken out an £18m Covid support loan from the Welsh government in 2022, for which it subsequently appealed for an improvement in terms.

But a new £55m package – via banks HSBC and Goldman Sachs – will see the Welsh government loan and a separate commercial loan paid off.

"Neither of those two organisations would have invested in us if they'd had any concerns about our governance or the future plans that we've put forward to them - and I think that's a real statement of positivity towards the future of Welsh rugby," said Collier-Keywood, adding that the WRU now has a stronger "economic rock" to build from.

Faced with further questions on the matter, Collier-Keywood admitted he had to share a five-year plan to secure investment, but cutting a professional team was not a pre-requisite.

Nevertheless, both he and Tierney reiterated that their plan to invest in grassroots, pathways and infrastructure to improve the game would have to see a reduction in professional sides.

That included a pledge to avoid "another Cardiff" after the capital city club were forced into administration in April and subsequently taken over by the WRU.