Ospreys future 'positive' as Scarlets set to sign WRU deal

ByChris Kirwan

BBC Sport Wales

Ospreys and Scarlets have welcomed the offer to sign a new agreement with the Welsh Rugby Union that could guarantee their survival until at last least 2028.

Head coach Mark Jones believes the future is looking brighter for Ospreys after their owners pulled out of a bid to buy rivals Cardiff.

The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) confirmed on Wednesday that negotiations with Y11 Sport & Media over purchasing the Arms Park club had collapsed without a deal.

Y11 have announced they will now sign the Professional Rugby Agreement (PRA) while Scarlets say they could follow suit "shortly" despite both regions previously refusing to sign.

That deal agreement run to 2030 but the WRU has the option to serve a two-year notice period and has said it intends to press on with plans to cut the number of professional clubs four to three.

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

"It's positive news for Welsh rugby in general, not just the Ospreys," said the former Wales wing.

"The outlook is looking a lot more positive over the next couple of seasons.

"If everything is signed off then we get some security around all areas of the agreement for another season on top of next year.

"That definitely helps around staffing, player recruitment, retention and general morale. It's a big help for everybody."

Cardiff and Dragons signed the PRA deal last year and with Ospreys now set to sign, that looks to have forced Scarlets' hand.

The region said it welcomed the opportunity to enter the agreement for the next two years.

"We will continue to engage constructively with the WRU on its future strategy, with the aim of signing the PRA25 agreement shortly following due diligence," the club said in a statement.

"The PRA25 update is welcomed as it brings the prospect of increased stability, security and clearer governance over the next two years - with greater clarity and a more equitable framework for the professional game."

Earlier this month, Scarlets announced it has secured further investment from the existing funding group.

Both Ospreys and Scarlets have had to compete in the United Rugby Championship amid major uncertainty around their future.

That has also raised questions over Ospreys' plans to move to St Helen's in Swansea next season after playing at Bridgend's Brewery Field this season.

Jones said he told players of the Y11-Cardiff deal collapse during training.

"Sometimes [we] have had to deliver not such positive news and you are always worried about how it's going to affect the group," he said.

"This certainly seems to have affected the group in a positive way if you look at how the training session went in terms of the body language. They look like they're in a good place off the back of it."

In a twist of fate, Ospreys travel to Cardiff on Friday night with places in the play-offs at stake.

However the latest development has come too late to prevent Wales pair Jac Morgan and Dewi Lake from joining Gloucester next season.

While Ospreys have re-signed the likes of Dan Edwards, Kieran Hardy, Harri Deaves, Morgan Morse and Keelan Giles – as well as signing Wales wing Tom Rogers from Scarlets – they have lost two key figures.

"There's no doubt that the uncertainty really prompted those guys [Morgan and Lake] to look further afield," said Jones.

"There was no real requirement for them to go elsewhere but they felt, for their careers and stability of their families, they had no choice.

"We have absolutely nothing against those lads because they want to play at the highest level and in a short career you want to be secure in your job to be the best you possibly can."