Chief executive Lance Bradley is leaving Ospreys after two and a half years with the region.

The 61-year-old joined the Swansea-based side from Gloucester in January 2024 and has overseen the club during a turbulent time in Welsh rugby.

“There’s a saying in rugby that you always want to leave the shirt in a better place than you found it,” said Bradley.

“Despite an incredibly challenging last 12 months, I feel I’ve done that with Ospreys.”

Bradley’s tenure at the club has been set against a backdrop of ongoing disputes between Wales’ four regions and the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU), which plans to cut one of those professional sides.

The club has also left a tenancy at Swansea.com Stadium and, after a season in Bridgend, will move into the newly developed St Helen’s ground in Swansea next season as a new home .

“When I joined in 2024 we had no stadium, our finances were in poor shape and although we had a loyal hardcore of fans, their numbers were dwindling,” added Bradley.

“Next season we move into our own stadium at St Helen’s, our finances are looking better than ever, and season ticket sales are already by far the best they’ve been for more than a decade.”

Bradley also thanked “everyone at, and associated with, Ospreys for their friendship and support” and added: “The most important part of any rugby club, its playing side, is developing nicely – building on our status as Wales’ most successful region.”

In a statement announcing their chief executive’s departure, Ospreys Rugby said they wanted to “put on record its thanks to Lance for what he’s achieved in his tenure as CEO”.

The club, owned by Y11 Sport & Media, added they will make an announcement on Bradley’s replacement in due course.

Bradley was appointed at Ospreys after spending four years at Kingsholm.

During his 30 months in charge he has been heavily involved in navigating the club during a time when its future has been uncertain, set against the backdrop of planned WRU changes for the professional game in Wales.

In January 2026, Ospreys owners Y11 entered negotiations with the Union to purchase Cardiff Rugby – under WRU control since going into administration the previous April – raising doubts over the future of the Swansea-based club.

That proposed deal, however, subsequently fell through.

In June, Ospreys signed a fresh Professional Rugby Agreement (PRA) with the WRU ending a lengthy stand-off – although uncertainty remains with that agreement expiring at the end of the 2027-28 season.

Bradley also oversaw the club’s move away from staging home games at the ground they had shared with the city’s football side Swansea City since 2005-06.

In 2025-26 Ospreys played home matches at the Brewery Field in Bridgend but will return to Swansea to play at a revamped St Helen’s Stadium in 2026-27.

During Bradley’s first few months in charge, the Ospreys reached the quarter-finals of the United Rugby Championship (URC) play-offs, missing out in subsequent seasons, finishing 12th and 11th.

In December 2024, head coach Toby Booth surprisingly left the club and was replaced by former Wales wing Mark Jones.

This summer they have seen a number of high-profile players leave the club, including Wales captains Jac Morgan and Dewi Lake who will join Bradley’s former employers Gloucester for next season.