Ospreys pressing on with plans despite WRU dispute

Ospreys chief executive Lance Bradley says pressing ahead with plans to move to a new ground shows they are confident of a positive outcome in their dispute with the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU).

The Welsh region announced in 2024 they would be moving from Swansea.com Stadium to the smaller St Helen's venue for the 2025-26 season.

Ospreys have made the official planning application submission for the redevelopment of St Helen's to Swansea Council which they say is a "significant milestone".

The move comes at a time when Ospreys and Scarlets are involved in a dispute with the WRU about future funding.

"We are still talking with the WRU about the situation and if we were not confident of a positive outcome that would make things a lot more difficult," said Bradley.

"The fact we are proceeding full steam ahead with the development does shows a level of confidence."

Speaking on BBC Radio Wales Breakfast, Bradley went on:

"It [not having a deal] makes planning more difficult and frustrating because we think this could have been avoided.

"Life isn't always a smooth road and there are sometimes road bumps.

"This is one of those and we are managing our way through that."

Ospreys and Scarlets are at loggerheads with the WRU after the two professional sides did not sign the new Professional Rugby Agreement (PRA) by the deadline of 8 May.

The WRU has since announced it will move away from a model of four evenly funded professional sides which will result in a new tiered funding system.

It is a move Ospreys and Scarlets described as a U-turn that has "created more destabilising and debilitating uncertainty in our game".

The agreement has been signed by Dragons and also by Cardiff, who were last month taken over by the WRU after they temporarily went into administration.

The WRU insisted the new PRA offered a better deal for the regions but Ospreys and Scarlets said they had asked the governing body for assurances the takeover "will not disproportionally benefit Cardiff and disadvantage the independent clubs".

"We were ready to sign a contract, we had agreed and confirmed to the WRU in April," said Bradley.

"So in terms of the actual PRA contract there isn't anything to discuss.

"The issue arose when Cardiff went into administration and now being owned by the WRU.

"That's the conversation now. I am hoping we are getting closer to a resolution.

"We are not there at the moment but hoping it will be reasonably shortly. There isn't another deadline and talks are ongoing."

Reports have suggested the WRU are considering cutting a team from its professional tier, something the governing body has not publicly confirmed or denied is part of its plans.

They have said they will "work closely with all four professional clubs to agree the way forward beyond June 2027, with an open mind to all constructive and realistic proposals" and they hope a long-term resolution will be decided by September.

The four professional sides play in the United Rugby Championship (URC) with its chief executive Martin Anayi stating it would support the WRU in whatever decision was made.

"I saw those comments and that's what you would expect," said Bradley

"The WRU is a shareholder of URC and you would expect them to be talking to each other and be supportive.

"I don't think you should necessarily read into that we will be definitely going into three regions and the conversations are ongoing."

Bradley said the uncertainty was unsettling for everybody involved in the Welsh game.

"I completely understand the nervousness and unsettling nature of where we all are at the moment," said Bradley.

"We try to keep fans informed as much as possible and we will do that as soon as we can in this situation."

Bradley says the dispute with the WRU has brought Ospreys closer with their local rivals.

"We are working very closely with Scarlets and we have the same questions about the levels of fairness about what the WRU are doing with Cardiff," he added.

"There is not a divide between us. We talk regularly about how jointly we can come to a good solution about this."

Bradley also insisted the Ospreys have not contemplated a future without a deal with the WRU:

"The WRU oversee rugby in Wales and our future will be a part of that.

"Whatever it turns out to be, it will be as part of a discussion and agreement with the WRU."