Welsh rugby has been plunged into fresh chaos after the deal for Ospreys’ owners to buy Cardiff fell through.
The highly controversial agreement would have effectively spelt the end of the Ospreys after their owners Y11 Sport & Media was granted a period of exclusivity on the sale of union-owned Cardiff in January.
That period was extended through to April 22 but on Wednesday the Welsh Rugby Union said it and Y11 had “jointly agreed the Ospreys owners will withdraw from the bid process”.
In the short term, Cardiff will remain under the WRU’s control. However, the union remains committed to removing one of the four Welsh regions by the end of the 2027-28 season, creating fresh uncertainty for all the players, staff and supporters.
No reasons were given for the breakdown in negotiations, but Abi Tierney, the WRU chief executive, confirmed it would not deviate from its strategy. “We know we need to move to three clubs, nothing has changed there, for both financial and performance reasons and so we can invest in the right way in our pathway to ensure the future of the game,” Tierney said. “But this move brings stability to the system where it is needed and a calmness and assuredness to our plans for the future.
Daniel Schofield
Deputy Rugby Union Correspondent Daniel Schofield
Daniel joined The Telegraph in 2014 after working as a sports reporter at The Times. See more
Published 22 April 2026 1:26pm BST
Related Topics
WRU, Cardiff Rugby, Ospreys Rugby, Swansea, Scarlets Rugby, Newport Gwent Dragons
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Ospreys fans protest
Ospreys fans protest against the possible merger in January Credit: Huw Fairclough/Getty Images
Welsh rugby has been plunged into fresh chaos after the deal for Ospreys’ owners to buy Cardiff fell through.
The highly controversial agreement would have effectively spelt the end of the Ospreys after their owners Y11 Sport & Media was granted a period of exclusivity on the sale of union-owned Cardiff in January.
That period was extended through to April 22 but on Wednesday the Welsh Rugby Union said it and Y11 had “jointly agreed the Ospreys owners will withdraw from the bid process”.
In the short term, Cardiff will remain under the WRU’s control. However, the union remains committed to removing one of the four Welsh regions by the end of the 2027-28 season, creating fresh uncertainty for all the players, staff and supporters.
No reasons were given for the breakdown in negotiations, but Abi Tierney, the WRU chief executive, confirmed it would not deviate from its strategy. “We know we need to move to three clubs, nothing has changed there, for both financial and performance reasons and so we can invest in the right way in our pathway to ensure the future of the game,” Tierney said. “But this move brings stability to the system where it is needed and a calmness and assuredness to our plans for the future.
Abi Tierney
Abi Tierney is ‘undeterred’ in her ambition to cut the regions from four to three Credit: Huw Evans/Shutterstock
“Y11 presented the best bid for Cardiff Rugby, but the WRU has ultimately concluded that it is in the best interests of Welsh rugby for Cardiff Rugby to remain under WRU ownership for now. We remain undeterred from our ambition to move to three professional sides, this is necessary for the future of our game.”
The WRU confirmed that both Ospreys and Scarlets will be offered the opportunity to join the Professional Rugby Agreement (PRA25), which Cardiff and the Dragons committed to in May 2025. With the WRU previously outlining a strategy to have three regions – one based in the east, one in Cardiff and one in the west, the Ospreys and Scarlets have been earmarked as the regions most at risk.
To say the process has generated resentment and ill will has been an understatement with Swansea council starting legal action against the WRU over the potential sale of Cardiff to Y11. Richard Collier-Keywood, the WRU chair, announced that he was stepping down in the summer ahead of a vote of no confidence at an EGM on April 13.
Meanwhile, the Ospreys – and the other Welsh regions – remain in limbo, with Y11 offering a statement that offered no guarantees of their long-term future. It read: “PRA25 for the Ospreys and top-tier rugby in Swansea, partnering with Swansea council and developing St Helens, is the right outcome, whilst continuing to work with the WRU to further build a better pro rugby environment.
“We are grateful to the WRU for their openness and transparency throughout the negotiation period.
“Thank you to the Ospreys supporters for their patience and understanding, we know these have been worrying times for fans.”