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The Ospreys Supporters Club (OSC), CF10 Rugby Trust representing Cardiff Rugby supporters, and the Dragons Official Supporters Club (DOSC) have jointly backed the petition, warning that cutting the number of elite teams from four to three would cause “serious consequences” for Welsh rugby and the communities that sustain it.
The petition comes after weeks of escalating anger across Swansea Bay and beyond, with supporters, former players and political leaders condemning the WRU’s direction. Two Swansea MPs have already called for a change of leadership at the governing body, while Alun Wyn Jones, Michael Sheen and Swansea Council have all urged the WRU to rethink.
In a joint statement, the three supporters’ groups said they were “deeply concerned” about the WRU’s plans.
“We are passionate supporters of Welsh rugby and deeply concerned about the direction being proposed,” they said. “Reducing the number of elite teams from four to three would have serious consequences for our national sport and the communities that sustain it.”
The groups said they did not believe the restructure would deliver the “stability or success” the WRU hopes for, warning that “rushing through such a fundamental change without proper consensus risks lasting harm”.
They are calling for the WRU to pause the process and adopt a more collaborative approach, giving greater weight to the views of supporters, communities, the four regions and former players.
“Welsh rugby belongs to its communities as much as its administrators,” the statement added. “We are asking the WRU to listen, to reflect, and to work with supporters to build a model that secures the future of the game for generations to come.”
The petition states that supporters “call on the WRU to halt the planned restructuring” and warns that reducing the number of elite teams “will have detrimental consequences for the future of our national sport”. It urges the union to “stop these current proposals now” to ensure Welsh rugby remains sustainable.
Torsten Bell, MP for Swansea West, said the petition showed the scale of opposition to the WRU’s plans.
“Opposition to the WRU’s attempt to impose a top‑down, badly thought through, and chaotically implemented hatchet job on professional rugby has unified rugby fans right across Wales,” he said. “Supporters are saying loud and clear that the WRU needs to think again.”
The petition marks the latest flashpoint in a crisis that has already seen senior players, Hollywood actors, council leaders and MPs line up to challenge the WRU’s direction. What began as quiet concern has hardened into a rare, united front across Swansea Bay and beyond, with supporters warning that the future of the professional game in Wales is now at stake.
While the WRU insists no final decision has been made, the possibility of losing the Ospreys has ignited a level of public mobilisation not seen in Welsh rugby for years. The three supporters’ groups say the petition is the clearest way for fans to show the strength of feeling before the union moves any further.
They are urging supporters across Wales to add their names and make their voices heard, arguing that the WRU must not push ahead without the backing of the communities the game depends on.
The petition is available at: https://www.change.org/p/oppose-the-wru-s-proposed-reduction-in-elite-teams
Alun Wyn Jones warns WRU’s Ospreys plan would leave a ‘rugby black hole’
The former Wales captain cautioned that cutting the Ospreys would devastate rugby across Swansea Bay.
Swansea Council unites in dramatic show of support as Ospreys crisis deepens
Councillors backed the region amid growing fears over its future.
Council leader tables emergency motion over Ospreys’ future
Swansea’s leadership demanded clarity from the WRU as uncertainty escalated.
Michael Sheen steps into the Ospreys spotlight urging WRU to rethink
The actor added his voice to calls for the WRU to change course.
Talks confirmed over possible Ospreys return to St Helen’s
The region and council discussed a potential move back to the historic ground.
‘Rugby civil war’ as Ospreys boss blasts council over future claims
Tensions flared as the region hit back at suggestions it could be scrapped.
MPs accuse WRU of ‘stitch‑up’ as political pressure intensifies
Swansea MPs criticised the WRU’s handling of the restructuring process.
Swansea Council blasts WRU as Ospreys face being ‘wiped out’
The council warned the region was at risk in the proposed shake‑up.
Ospreys chief breaks silence after WRU confirms Cardiff Rugby sale plan
The region’s leadership responded to the WRU’s announcement.
WRU confirms plan to sell Cardiff Rugby as Ospreys face uncertainty
The union outlined its intentions as questions over the Ospreys’ future grew.
The Welsh Rugby Union has written to every club in Wales defending its decision to back the Y11 takeover of Cardiff Rugby, as pressure builds over the future of the Ospreys and the growing threat of an Extraordinary General Meeting.
The letter, signed by all 12 board members, says the WRU inherited a “debilitating” financial and governance crisis when the new board took over in January 2024. It claims the Union was facing broken pathways, mistreated women’s players and breaches of banking covenants that restricted its ability to operate.
The WRU says it has since stabilised its finances, increasing earnings by 35% in the year to June 2025, repaying the Welsh Government’s Covid loan and refinancing debt with Goldman Sachs and HSBC.
The Union insists it “remains committed to representative rugby throughout Wales, including in Swansea and north Wales”, despite growing concern that the Ospreys may not survive the planned shift from four to three professional teams.
Swansea Council is expected to publish minutes of a meeting held with WRU chief executive Abi Tierney and Ospreys boss Lancy Bradley, in which the council says it was told there is “no viable future” for the region.
The decision to support a Y11 takeover of Cardiff — the same company that owns the Ospreys — has sparked protests from both sets of supporters. Fans chanted “shame on you” at last weekend’s Ospreys v Dragons derby, and WRU board member Jamie Roberts was booed while working as a pundit for S4C.
In the letter, the WRU says it stepped in to prevent Cardiff from collapsing mid‑season, warning that failure to fulfil fixtures would have triggered financial penalties from the URC and broadcasters.
The board says the Y11 bid was chosen “unanimously” and “on its merits”, with independent external advice taken before the decision was made.
It adds that Welsh rugby needs “a strong team in the capital”, but also stresses the need for strong teams in both east and west Wales.
The WRU says the biggest consultation in Welsh sporting history delivered a clear message: the men’s professional game cannot survive in its current form. According to the board, the system had become stretched, uneven and financially unstable, and the only way to rebuild was to concentrate resources rather than spread them thinly.
The Union says the future shape of the game will centre on three properly funded professional teams, with the aim of making Welsh sides more competitive and more cohesive. A key part of that plan is bringing more Welsh players home, ensuring the best talent is playing in Wales rather than being lost to clubs elsewhere.
The WRU also says the pathway system — long criticised by coaches and former players — will be rebuilt from the ground up. That includes a new national academy, stronger regional development sides and player‑development centres across the country for both the men’s and women’s game. The Union says all of this must be backed by “much‑needed” investment in coaching.
The board insists it still wants to reach agreement with clubs rather than impose change through a tender process, but says the direction of travel is now unavoidable.
Enough clubs have now indicated support for an Extraordinary General Meeting to make it a strong possibility after the Six Nations. The WRU acknowledges that trust has been damaged and says communication with clubs must improve.
“We understand the uncertainty of recent months has been unsettling,” the letter says. “Your Board has been united in its decisions and in the belief that Welsh rugby is strongest when we pull together.”
The Union says it will introduce a new regular communication for member clubs to keep them updated.
The letter is signed by all 12 board members, including chair Richard Collier‑Keywood, president Terry Cobner, CEO Abi Tierney and former Wales international Jamie Roberts.
Ospreys at risk as Plaid Cymru demands Welsh Government step in over WRU cuts
Plaid Cymru says the Ospreys face an uncertain future and has urged ministers to intervene.
Public meeting called as fight to save the Ospreys intensifies
Supporters and local leaders gather as pressure mounts on the WRU to rethink its plans.
Supporters groups unite to launch petition against WRU restructure
Fans from three regions join forces to oppose the Union’s proposed shake‑up of the pro game.
Alun Wyn Jones warns WRU’s Ospreys plan would leave a “rugby black hole” across Swansea Bay
The former Wales captain says losing the Ospreys would devastate the region’s rugby pathway.
The Ospreys Supporters Club (OSC), CF10 Rugby Trust representing Cardiff Rugby supporters, and the Dragons Official Supporters Club (DOSC) have jointly backed the petition, warning that cutting the number of elite teams from four to three would cause “serious consequences” for Welsh rugby and the communities that sustain it.
The petition comes after weeks of escalating anger across Swansea Bay and beyond, with supporters, former players and political leaders condemning the WRU’s direction. Two Swansea MPs have already called for a change of leadership at the governing body, while Alun Wyn Jones, Michael Sheen and Swansea Council have all urged the WRU to rethink.
In a joint statement, the three supporters’ groups said they were “deeply concerned” about the WRU’s plans.
“We are passionate supporters of Welsh rugby and deeply concerned about the direction being proposed,” they said. “Reducing the number of elite teams from four to three would have serious consequences for our national sport and the communities that sustain it.”
The groups said they did not believe the restructure would deliver the “stability or success” the WRU hopes for, warning that “rushing through such a fundamental change without proper consensus risks lasting harm”.
They are calling for the WRU to pause the process and adopt a more collaborative approach, giving greater weight to the views of supporters, communities, the four regions and former players.
“Welsh rugby belongs to its communities as much as its administrators,” the statement added. “We are asking the WRU to listen, to reflect, and to work with supporters to build a model that secures the future of the game for generations to come.”
The petition states that supporters “call on the WRU to halt the planned restructuring” and warns that reducing the number of elite teams “will have detrimental consequences for the future of our national sport”. It urges the union to “stop these current proposals now” to ensure Welsh rugby remains sustainable.
Torsten Bell, MP for Swansea West, said the petition showed the scale of opposition to the WRU’s plans.
“Opposition to the WRU’s attempt to impose a top‑down, badly thought through, and chaotically implemented hatchet job on professional rugby has unified rugby fans right across Wales,” he said. “Supporters are saying loud and clear that the WRU needs to think again.”
The petition marks the latest flashpoint in a crisis that has already seen senior players, Hollywood actors, council leaders and MPs line up to challenge the WRU’s direction. What began as quiet concern has hardened into a rare, united front across Swansea Bay and beyond, with supporters warning that the future of the professional game in Wales is now at stake.
While the WRU insists no final decision has been made, the possibility of losing the Ospreys has ignited a level of public mobilisation not seen in Welsh rugby for years. The three supporters’ groups say the petition is the clearest way for fans to show the strength of feeling before the union moves any further.
They are urging supporters across Wales to add their names and make their voices heard, arguing that the WRU must not push ahead without the backing of the communities the game depends on.
The petition is available at: https://www.change.org/p/oppose-the-wru-s-proposed-reduction-in-elite-teams
Alun Wyn Jones warns WRU’s Ospreys plan would leave a ‘rugby black hole’
The former Wales captain cautioned that cutting the Ospreys would devastate rugby across Swansea Bay.
Swansea Council unites in dramatic show of support as Ospreys crisis deepens
Councillors backed the region amid growing fears over its future.
Council leader tables emergency motion over Ospreys’ future
Swansea’s leadership demanded clarity from the WRU as uncertainty escalated.
Michael Sheen steps into the Ospreys spotlight urging WRU to rethink
The actor added his voice to calls for the WRU to change course.
Talks confirmed over possible Ospreys return to St Helen’s
The region and council discussed a potential move back to the historic ground.
‘Rugby civil war’ as Ospreys boss blasts council over future claims
Tensions flared as the region hit back at suggestions it could be scrapped.
MPs accuse WRU of ‘stitch‑up’ as political pressure intensifies
Swansea MPs criticised the WRU’s handling of the restructuring process.
Swansea Council blasts WRU as Ospreys face being ‘wiped out’
The council warned the region was at risk in the proposed shake‑up.
Ospreys chief breaks silence after WRU confirms Cardiff Rugby sale plan
The region’s leadership responded to the WRU’s announcement.
WRU confirms plan to sell Cardiff Rugby as Ospreys face uncertainty
The union outlined its intentions as questions over the Ospreys’ future grew.
The Welsh Rugby Union has written to every club in Wales defending its decision to back the Y11 takeover of Cardiff Rugby, as pressure builds over the future of the Ospreys and the growing threat of an Extraordinary General Meeting.
The letter, signed by all 12 board members, says the WRU inherited a “debilitating” financial and governance crisis when the new board took over in January 2024. It claims the Union was facing broken pathways, mistreated women’s players and breaches of banking covenants that restricted its ability to operate.
The WRU says it has since stabilised its finances, increasing earnings by 35% in the year to June 2025, repaying the Welsh Government’s Covid loan and refinancing debt with Goldman Sachs and HSBC.
The Union insists it “remains committed to representative rugby throughout Wales, including in Swansea and north Wales”, despite growing concern that the Ospreys may not survive the planned shift from four to three professional teams.
Swansea Council is expected to publish minutes of a meeting held with WRU chief executive Abi Tierney and Ospreys boss Lancy Bradley, in which the council says it was told there is “no viable future” for the region.
The decision to support a Y11 takeover of Cardiff — the same company that owns the Ospreys — has sparked protests from both sets of supporters. Fans chanted “shame on you” at last weekend’s Ospreys v Dragons derby, and WRU board member Jamie Roberts was booed while working as a pundit for S4C.
In the letter, the WRU says it stepped in to prevent Cardiff from collapsing mid‑season, warning that failure to fulfil fixtures would have triggered financial penalties from the URC and broadcasters.
The board says the Y11 bid was chosen “unanimously” and “on its merits”, with independent external advice taken before the decision was made.
It adds that Welsh rugby needs “a strong team in the capital”, but also stresses the need for strong teams in both east and west Wales.
The WRU says the biggest consultation in Welsh sporting history delivered a clear message: the men’s professional game cannot survive in its current form. According to the board, the system had become stretched, uneven and financially unstable, and the only way to rebuild was to concentrate resources rather than spread them thinly.
The Union says the future shape of the game will centre on three properly funded professional teams, with the aim of making Welsh sides more competitive and more cohesive. A key part of that plan is bringing more Welsh players home, ensuring the best talent is playing in Wales rather than being lost to clubs elsewhere.
The WRU also says the pathway system — long criticised by coaches and former players — will be rebuilt from the ground up. That includes a new national academy, stronger regional development sides and player‑development centres across the country for both the men’s and women’s game. The Union says all of this must be backed by “much‑needed” investment in coaching.
The board insists it still wants to reach agreement with clubs rather than impose change through a tender process, but says the direction of travel is now unavoidable.
Enough clubs have now indicated support for an Extraordinary General Meeting to make it a strong possibility after the Six Nations. The WRU acknowledges that trust has been damaged and says communication with clubs must improve.
“We understand the uncertainty of recent months has been unsettling,” the letter says. “Your Board has been united in its decisions and in the belief that Welsh rugby is strongest when we pull together.”
The Union says it will introduce a new regular communication for member clubs to keep them updated.
The letter is signed by all 12 board members, including chair Richard Collier‑Keywood, president Terry Cobner, CEO Abi Tierney and former Wales international Jamie Roberts.
Ospreys at risk as Plaid Cymru demands Welsh Government step in over WRU cuts
Plaid Cymru says the Ospreys face an uncertain future and has urged ministers to intervene.
Public meeting called as fight to save the Ospreys intensifies
Supporters and local leaders gather as pressure mounts on the WRU to rethink its plans.
Supporters groups unite to launch petition against WRU restructure
Fans from three regions join forces to oppose the Union’s proposed shake‑up of the pro game.
Alun Wyn Jones warns WRU’s Ospreys plan would leave a “rugby black hole” across Swansea Bay
The former Wales captain says losing the Ospreys would devastate the region’s rugby pathway.