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Representatives from the Ospreys, WRU and Swansea Council met last week to discuss the future of professional rugby in Swansea
Ospreys CEO Lance Bradley has hit back at Swansea Council leader Rob Stewart’s claim that the Welsh Rugby Union sees no future for the region.
In an explosive statement released following a meeting between Stewart, Bradley and WRU CEO Abi Tierney last week, the Swansea Council leader said they could not commit any money to the development of St Helen’s until the Ospreys‘ future is resolved.
Last week the WRU announced it was entering a period of exclusivity with Ospreys owners Y11 Sports & Media over the sale of Cardiff Rugby.
If a deal is completed over the next 60 days Y11 will own both Cardiff and the Ospreys until at least the end of the 2026/27 season.
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But given the WRU want to reduce the number of professional teams in Wales from four to three, this has led to fears the Ospreys will be the team to go.
“There was a clear indication that they saw no viable future for the Ospreys within their new arrangements,” said Stewart following the meeting last week.
But in an internal email sent by Bradley to all Ospreys staff on Thursday afternoon, seen by WalesOnline, Bradley rejected Stewart’s interpretation of what was said.
“You may have seen that Swansea Council put out a statement this afternoon following a meeting Abi Tierney and I had with them this morning,” wrote Bradley.
“In that statement Swansea Council said that ‘There was a clear indication that they saw no viable future for the Ospreys’.
“That is categorically incorrect.
“It is extremely disappointing that Swansea Council should choose to disclose any contents of what was agreed to be a confidential meeting, and in particular that they should report something which was not said or implied.
“I will be taking the matter up with Rob Stewart, Swansea Council leader, tomorrow.
“I realise that this is a difficult time for everyone, but as always, to the best of my ability I will give you information about what is happening before anyone else hears about it.
“If there was no ‘viable future’ I would have told you.
“It may be a little while before I can tell you what the future may look like, but it is not the case that there is no viable future.”
WalesOnline is attempting to contact both Bradley and Stewart for comment.
