Ospreys Future 'positive' As Scarlets Set To Sign Wru Deal

ByChris Kirwan

BBC Sport Wales

Ospreys and Scarlets person welcomed nan connection to motion a caller statement pinch nan Welsh Rugby Union that could guarantee their endurance until astatine past slightest 2028.

Head coach Mark Jones believes nan early is looking brighter for Ospreys aft their owners pulled retired of a bid to bargain rivals Cardiff.

The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) confirmed connected Wednesday that negotiations pinch Y11 Sport & Media complete purchasing nan Arms Park nine had collapsed without a deal.

Y11 person announced they will now motion nan Professional Rugby Agreement (PRA) while Scarlets opportunity they could travel suit "shortly" contempt some regions antecedently refusing to sign.

That woody statement tally to 2030 but nan WRU has nan action to service a two-year announcement play and has said it intends to property connected pinch plans to trim nan number of master clubs 4 to three.

Nonetheless, Jones is relieved Ospreys' early has been secured to 2028.

"It's affirmative news for Welsh rugby successful general, not conscionable nan Ospreys," said nan erstwhile Wales wing.

"The outlook is looking a batch much affirmative complete nan adjacent mates of seasons.

"If everything is signed disconnected past we get immoderate information astir each areas of nan statement for different play connected apical of adjacent year.

"That decidedly helps astir staffing, subordinate recruitment, retention and wide morale. It's a large thief for everybody."

Cardiff and Dragons signed nan PRA woody past twelvemonth and pinch Ospreys now group to sign, that looks to person forced Scarlets' hand.

The region said it welcomed nan opportunity to participate nan statement for nan adjacent 2 years.

"We will proceed to prosecute constructively pinch nan WRU connected its early strategy, pinch nan purpose of signing nan PRA25 statement soon pursuing owed diligence," nan nine said successful a statement.

"The PRA25 update is welcomed arsenic it brings nan imaginable of accrued stability, information and clearer governance complete nan adjacent 2 years - pinch greater clarity and a much equitable model for nan master game."

Earlier this month, Scarlets announced it has secured further investment from nan existing backing group.

Both Ospreys and Scarlets person had to compete successful nan United Rugby Championship amid major uncertainty astir their future.

That has besides raised questions complete Ospreys' plans to move to St Helen's successful Swansea adjacent play aft playing astatine Bridgend's Brewery Field this season.

Jones said he told players of nan Y11-Cardiff woody illness during training.

"Sometimes [we] person had to present not specified affirmative news and you are ever worried astir really it's going to impact nan group," he said.

"This surely seems to person affected nan group successful a affirmative measurement if you look astatine really nan training convention went successful position of nan assemblage language. They look for illustration they're successful a bully spot disconnected nan backmost of it."

In a twist of fate, Ospreys recreation to Cardiff connected Friday nighttime pinch places successful nan play-offs astatine stake.

However nan latest improvement has travel excessively precocious to forestall Wales brace Jac Morgan and Dewi Lake from joining Gloucester adjacent season.

While Ospreys person re-signed nan likes of Dan Edwards, Kieran Hardy, Harri Deaves, Morgan Morse and Keelan Giles – arsenic good arsenic signing Wales helping Tom Rogers from Scarlets – they person mislaid 2 cardinal figures.

"There's nary uncertainty that nan uncertainty really prompted those guys [Morgan and Lake] to look further afield," said Jones.

"There was nary existent request for them to spell elsewhere but they felt, for their careers and stableness of their families, they had nary choice.

"We person perfectly thing against those lads because they want to play astatine nan highest level and successful a short profession you want to beryllium unafraid successful your occupation to beryllium nan champion you perchance can."