2 days ago
The Welsh Rugby Union has confirmed it will cut one of its four men's professional teams from the 2028-29 season, with Scarlets and Ospreys set to fight it out to survive.
The WRU says one of its teams will be based in the capital Cardiff, one in the west and the east.
It means one of the two regions in the west, Scarlets or Ospreys, will be defunct, with Cardiff and Dragons offered the respective capital and east licences.
"The WRU board has examined in detail a range of factors when determining the three future licence areas and has confirmed that only incumbent teams will be considered eligible for a licence," a WRU statement said.
The licensing framework and the licence award process will begin in December 2026 and conclude by the end of the 2026-27 season at the latest.
#scarlets #ospreys #confirmed
The WRU says one of its teams will be based in the capital Cardiff, one in the west and the east.
It means one of the two regions in the west, Scarlets or Ospreys, will be defunct, with Cardiff and Dragons offered the respective capital and east licences.
"The WRU board has examined in detail a range of factors when determining the three future licence areas and has confirmed that only incumbent teams will be considered eligible for a licence," a WRU statement said.
The licensing framework and the licence award process will begin in December 2026 and conclude by the end of the 2026-27 season at the latest.
#scarlets #ospreys #confirmed
23 days ago
Shaun Connor is among several new appointments to Dragons' backroom staff for the 2026-2027 season.
The former Dragons and Ospreys fly-half will take up the role of kicking and skills consultant at Rodney Parade.
Connor previously worked as an academy and skills coach for Dragons and was an **** istant coach to Lyn Jones' Russia at the 2019 Rugby World Cup in **** an.
The 50-year-old was most recently part of Wales women's coaching team, but left after three years in the post after the 2025 Rugby World Cup.
He has also worked extensively with Wales Under-20s.
The former Dragons and Ospreys fly-half will take up the role of kicking and skills consultant at Rodney Parade.
Connor previously worked as an academy and skills coach for Dragons and was an **** istant coach to Lyn Jones' Russia at the 2019 Rugby World Cup in **** an.
The 50-year-old was most recently part of Wales women's coaching team, but left after three years in the post after the 2025 Rugby World Cup.
He has also worked extensively with Wales Under-20s.
27 days ago
Midway through a career year on the mound, Bryan Baker is swooping to the All-Star Game.
The Tampa Bay Rays relief pitcher, a former standout at the University of North Florida, was selected July 4 to the American League team for Major League Baseball's All-Star Game. He becomes the first player in Ospreys history to receive the call for the Midsummer Classic.
In his first season as the Rays' closer, Baker concluded the weekend in second in the majors with 23 saves, behind only Cade Smith (26 saves) of the Cleveland Guardians.
Baker has pitched in 36 games this season with a 1-0 record, a 1.83 ERA, 37 strikeouts in 34 1/3 innings and an 0.82 WHIP. Opposing batters are hitting only .143 against him.
He is among four Tampa Bay selections, with third baseman Junior Caminero, pitcher Drew Rasmussen and designated hitter Yandy Diaz.
The Tampa Bay Rays relief pitcher, a former standout at the University of North Florida, was selected July 4 to the American League team for Major League Baseball's All-Star Game. He becomes the first player in Ospreys history to receive the call for the Midsummer Classic.
In his first season as the Rays' closer, Baker concluded the weekend in second in the majors with 23 saves, behind only Cade Smith (26 saves) of the Cleveland Guardians.
Baker has pitched in 36 games this season with a 1-0 record, a 1.83 ERA, 37 strikeouts in 34 1/3 innings and an 0.82 WHIP. Opposing batters are hitting only .143 against him.
He is among four Tampa Bay selections, with third baseman Junior Caminero, pitcher Drew Rasmussen and designated hitter Yandy Diaz.
1 month ago
Wales lock Dafydd Jenkins has been ruled out of the summer Nations Championship Tests because of a shoulder injury suffered with Exeter.
The 23-year-old is not in Steve Tandy's 33-strong squad for the fixtures against Fiji, Argentina and South Africa.
Jenkins, who started all five Six Nations fixtures, suffered a blow in the Chiefs' Prem final defeat by Northampton.
There are two uncapped players in Tandy's cut-down squad, Ospreys tight-head prop Ben Warren and Exeter back-row forward Kane James.
The head coach initially named a 48-man summer squad with the intention of trimming it after the uncapped fixture against the Barbarians, which they won 33-31 at Allianz Stadium.
The 23-year-old is not in Steve Tandy's 33-strong squad for the fixtures against Fiji, Argentina and South Africa.
Jenkins, who started all five Six Nations fixtures, suffered a blow in the Chiefs' Prem final defeat by Northampton.
There are two uncapped players in Tandy's cut-down squad, Ospreys tight-head prop Ben Warren and Exeter back-row forward Kane James.
The head coach initially named a 48-man summer squad with the intention of trimming it after the uncapped fixture against the Barbarians, which they won 33-31 at Allianz Stadium.
1 month ago
The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) has delayed revealing details of how they plan to reduce a professional side.
In April, the WRU confirmed that proposals to go down to three men's professional teams would not happen until 2028 after the deal with Ospreys owners Y11 Sport & Media to buy Cardiff from Welsh rugby's governing body fell through.
The WRU said it was pushing on with controversial plans to cut from four to three and that they would provide details of how it would be achieved by the end of June, with Scarlets, Ospreys, Dragons and WRU-owned Cardiff waiting for the proposals.
The governing body now says that will be done in the "coming weeks" as they focus on appointing a new chair to replace the outgoing Richard Collier-Keywood.
They say this recruitment process will be completed over the summer and the new chair will be in post before the next WRU annual general meeting (AGM) in November.
In April, the WRU confirmed that proposals to go down to three men's professional teams would not happen until 2028 after the deal with Ospreys owners Y11 Sport & Media to buy Cardiff from Welsh rugby's governing body fell through.
The WRU said it was pushing on with controversial plans to cut from four to three and that they would provide details of how it would be achieved by the end of June, with Scarlets, Ospreys, Dragons and WRU-owned Cardiff waiting for the proposals.
The governing body now says that will be done in the "coming weeks" as they focus on appointing a new chair to replace the outgoing Richard Collier-Keywood.
They say this recruitment process will be completed over the summer and the new chair will be in post before the next WRU annual general meeting (AGM) in November.
1 month ago
More turmoil in Welsh rugby has impacted the squad-shaping at Cardiff, Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets ahead of 2026-27.
This season has been played amid uncertainty due to the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) aiming to cut one of the four professional clubs.
The WRU still wants to press on with their proposal but the quartet will remain as they are until at least 2028.
That small amount of clarity has helped coaches retain talent and bring players in, although star names Jac Morgan, Dewi Lake and Aaron Wainwright are heading for new challenges.
BBC Sport Wales rounds up the moves that have been confirmed so far.
This season has been played amid uncertainty due to the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) aiming to cut one of the four professional clubs.
The WRU still wants to press on with their proposal but the quartet will remain as they are until at least 2028.
That small amount of clarity has helped coaches retain talent and bring players in, although star names Jac Morgan, Dewi Lake and Aaron Wainwright are heading for new challenges.
BBC Sport Wales rounds up the moves that have been confirmed so far.
2 months ago
Ospreys have signed former Australia captain Liam Wright.
The 28-year-old flanker has made six appearances for the Wallabies, including captaining the side in the first Test win against Wales in Sydney in 2024.
Wright left Queensland Reds in 2025 after leading them on 55 occasions but has not played in a year after being plagued by injuries.
"The Reds were such an impactful club in my development as a player, it was important the next place I chose had a strong track record of developing quality players, and the Ospreys certainly fit that bill," said Wright.
"This is a great opportunity for me to test myself in new waters."
The 28-year-old flanker has made six appearances for the Wallabies, including captaining the side in the first Test win against Wales in Sydney in 2024.
Wright left Queensland Reds in 2025 after leading them on 55 occasions but has not played in a year after being plagued by injuries.
"The Reds were such an impactful club in my development as a player, it was important the next place I chose had a strong track record of developing quality players, and the Ospreys certainly fit that bill," said Wright.
"This is a great opportunity for me to test myself in new waters."
