1 month ago
The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) has hit back at claims the women's programme is a financial drain on the men's game.
WRU women's rugby director Nadine Griffiths said allegations she had read on social media that a region is to be cut because of investment in the women's game were "embarrassing".
And she added the women's game had in fact made money for the governing body.
The Union has had a professional women's programme since the start of 2022 and there are now more than 40 contracted players.
But plans to axe one of the four men's professional regions - most likely Scarlets or Ospreys - has stirred hostility.
#union #nadine #griffiths #scarlets
WRU women's rugby director Nadine Griffiths said allegations she had read on social media that a region is to be cut because of investment in the women's game were "embarrassing".
And she added the women's game had in fact made money for the governing body.
The Union has had a professional women's programme since the start of 2022 and there are now more than 40 contracted players.
But plans to axe one of the four men's professional regions - most likely Scarlets or Ospreys - has stirred hostility.
#union #nadine #griffiths #scarlets
1 month ago
FSU baseball's 2027 season may be a few months away, but they are gearing up for a revenge tour after being sent home in the Tallahassee Regional. With that comes the release of their fall baseball special events that the team will host in the month of October, with the Seminoles announcing the schedule on Thursday.
They will take on the North Florida Ospreys on Friday, Oct. 16, at 5 p.m. in their Friday Night Lights event. The Seminoles are 15-4 lifetime against UNF.
Then, on Saturday, Oct. 17 is another game against UNF, but this will also include the Fan Day Postgame. The game begins at 1 p.m. Finally, FSU will host its Garnet and Gold All-Star Game on Friday, Oct. 30 at 6 p.m.
The Seminoles will also participate in a fall ball game against the Auburn Tigers in Pensacola on Saturday, Oct. 10 at 2:00 p.m.
All of these events are either exhibitions or special events and will not count towards the Seminoles' overall or ACC record in the upcoming 2027 season. To learn more information or buy tickets, you can click here.
#game #Events #saturday #tallahassee
They will take on the North Florida Ospreys on Friday, Oct. 16, at 5 p.m. in their Friday Night Lights event. The Seminoles are 15-4 lifetime against UNF.
Then, on Saturday, Oct. 17 is another game against UNF, but this will also include the Fan Day Postgame. The game begins at 1 p.m. Finally, FSU will host its Garnet and Gold All-Star Game on Friday, Oct. 30 at 6 p.m.
The Seminoles will also participate in a fall ball game against the Auburn Tigers in Pensacola on Saturday, Oct. 10 at 2:00 p.m.
All of these events are either exhibitions or special events and will not count towards the Seminoles' overall or ACC record in the upcoming 2027 season. To learn more information or buy tickets, you can click here.
#game #Events #saturday #tallahassee
2 months ago
Ospreys have confirmed the return of former Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones as a director.
The 40-year-old has become a board member at the Swansea-based team with immediate effect.
Jones made his Ospreys debut in 2005, a year after he broke through with Swansea RFC, and helped the club to three ***** les and an Anglo-Welsh Cup triumph.
The former lock is to return at a turbulent time amid their fight for survival under Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) plans to cut to three professional men's sides.
"I have an understanding of the challenges facing rugby in Wales and the Ospreys," said Jones.
#welsh #return #three
The 40-year-old has become a board member at the Swansea-based team with immediate effect.
Jones made his Ospreys debut in 2005, a year after he broke through with Swansea RFC, and helped the club to three ***** les and an Anglo-Welsh Cup triumph.
The former lock is to return at a turbulent time amid their fight for survival under Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) plans to cut to three professional men's sides.
"I have an understanding of the challenges facing rugby in Wales and the Ospreys," said Jones.
#welsh #return #three
2 months ago
Former Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones is poised to return to the Ospreys as a director.
The 40-year-old is set to be announced as a board member by the Swansea-based club next week.
Jones made his Ospreys debut in 2005, a year after he broke through with Swansea RFC, and helped the club to three ****** les and an Anglo-Welsh Cup triumph.
The former lock is to return at a turbulent time as the club fights for survival under Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) plans to cut to three professional men's sides.
WRU-owned Cardiff and privately-backed Dragons are poised to get licences, which will effectively pit Ospreys against Llanelli-based Scarlets for a solitary spot in the west.
#swansea #poised
The 40-year-old is set to be announced as a board member by the Swansea-based club next week.
Jones made his Ospreys debut in 2005, a year after he broke through with Swansea RFC, and helped the club to three ****** les and an Anglo-Welsh Cup triumph.
The former lock is to return at a turbulent time as the club fights for survival under Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) plans to cut to three professional men's sides.
WRU-owned Cardiff and privately-backed Dragons are poised to get licences, which will effectively pit Ospreys against Llanelli-based Scarlets for a solitary spot in the west.
#swansea #poised
2 months ago
Scarlets managing director Jon Daniels has called for greater transparency from the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) as their future hangs in the balance.
Welsh rugby's governing body has outlined its plans to cut the number of professional teams from four to three by 2028, with Cardiff and Dragons set to be given licences.
That announcement has plunged Scarlets and Ospreys into doubt, with the west licence either being awarded to the Llanelli-based side or the Swansea-based rivals.
Daniels dismissed the notion that a merger between the teams - which was close, but ultimately scrapped in 2019 - is a consideration at this stage.
"There is currently no merger proposal on the table, so no, that is not an active discussion," said Daniels.
#merger
Welsh rugby's governing body has outlined its plans to cut the number of professional teams from four to three by 2028, with Cardiff and Dragons set to be given licences.
That announcement has plunged Scarlets and Ospreys into doubt, with the west licence either being awarded to the Llanelli-based side or the Swansea-based rivals.
Daniels dismissed the notion that a merger between the teams - which was close, but ultimately scrapped in 2019 - is a consideration at this stage.
"There is currently no merger proposal on the table, so no, that is not an active discussion," said Daniels.
#merger
3 months 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
3 months 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.
3 months 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.
4 months 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.
4 months 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.
4 months 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.
4 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."
