Swansea Council has released key details from a recent meeting with the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) and the Ospreys where they outlined proposals on the future of regional rugby in Wales.
The Council has also issued pre‑action legal letters to the WRU and Y11, owners of the Ospreys, calling for an immediate pause to the current restructure of Welsh rugby.
The meeting took place on 22 January 2026 between the Leader of Swansea Council, five senior council officers, WRU Chief Executive Abi Tierney, and Ospreys Chief Executive Lance Bradley, following a request from Mr Bradley.
While the Council had intended to publish the full minutes, Y11, Ospreys and the WRU have all objected to it doing so. In order to be constructive, minimise the risk of unnecessary disputes, and avoid delaying vital information reaching the public, the Council has instead decided to release only the key facts which it believes it is clearly in the public interest to disclose.
During the meeting, the WRU confirmed its position that Welsh regional teams would be reduced from four to three. It was also confirmed that Y11, the owners of the Ospreys, are the preferred bidders for Cardiff Rugby, with a 60‑day due diligence process already under way.
Mr Bradley outlined the Ospreys’ intended direction should the Y11 acquisition of Cardiff Rugby proceed:
- There would not be a professional Ospreys team playing regional rugby at St Helen’s after the 2026/27 season.
- The Ospreys envisaged a potential merger with Swansea RFC (the Whites) after the 2026/27 season, with the merged team competing in the semi‑professional Super Rygbi Cymru (SRC) rather than the United Rugby Championship (URC).
On the footing that there would be no URC regional rugby at St Helen’s if the Y11 acquisition completed, Ms Tierney explained certain potential alternative rugby uses for St Helen’s (the details of which remain confidential).
Council representatives left the meeting with a clear understanding that the basis of the WRU’s and Y11’s proposals for the future (if the acquisition of Cardiff Rugby by Y11 completed) was that the Ospreys would not continue as a professional regional team after 2026/27.
The Council expressed deep frustration that, despite extensive and recent discussions about the redevelopment of St Helen’s, it had not been informed earlier of these proposals. This lack of transparency and engagement is wholly unacceptable.
Swansea Council is profoundly disappointed that such a significant decision affecting the city’s rugby future has been taken without proper consultation, fairness, or regard for the impact on Swansea, its people, its young players, and communities across the region.
The Council has serious concerns that the WRU’s restructuring proposals breach UK competition law and has issued pre‑action letters to the WRU and Y11 requesting that they pause their restructure; reconsider proposals that would reduce the number of regions from four to three; and fully support efforts to secure the Ospreys’ future as a regional team in Swansea.
In its pre-action letter, the Council states:
- The WRU’s decision to cut the number of professional regions from four to three is, by its nature, a restriction of competition and has not been carried out in a fair, transparent or non‑discriminatory way.
- The process for allocating regional licences created an unfair distortion, effectively protecting Cardiff and Dragons while disadvantaging the Ospreys.
- The WRU’s ownership of Cardiff at the time of these decisions created a clear conflict of interest, further compounded by its willingness to allow Y11, already owners of the Ospreys, to become preferred bidders for Cardiff Rugby.
- This arrangement appears to rely on an understanding that the Ospreys would withdraw from competing for a regional licence, an outcome that is both anti‑competitive and unlawful.
- The Council will suffer loss as a result of these unlawful acts.
Swansea Council said that by taking this step they are demonstrating clear and unwavering support for players across Welsh Rugby, particularly those, including Ospreys, who are preparing to represent Wales in the next Six Nations.
The Council has said it remains resolute in standing up for the city and will continue to challenge the removal of regional rugby from Swansea.
