The Ospreys have set out how they intend to win the fight for west Wales’ last professional rugby licence: “invest, build, compete, win”.
In a statement marking the start of a new season, the club’s board acknowledged openly that the Ospreys and Scarlets are “for now, in direct competition” for the single west Wales licence on offer under the WRU’s three-team plan.
“We’re not going to pretend otherwise,” a spokesperson for the board said. “Our answer to that competition is straightforward: invest, build, compete, win. St Helen’s, our squad, our commercial growth and, ultimately, our results will make the case for us.”
The board repeated the club’s opposition to the destination, saying Welsh rugby needs reform but that a three-team future would leave west Wales, “one of the most passionate rugby regions in the game”, represented by a single side, and that four sustainable professional clubs remain the stronger foundation.
The declaration comes eleven days after the Scarlets told their supporters “Yma o Hyd”, we’re still here, in their own message on the licence fight.
The Ospreys’ case rests first on St Helen’s. Backed by Swansea Council’s £5.1 million and £2.5 million from owners Y11 Sports & Media, the club says foundations for the new 3G playing surface are now laid, with work continuing across the site ahead of the first season at the ground.
The phased redevelopment includes a new South Stand, a redeveloped West Stand and terrace, a fan zone and hospitality facilities, and the club says new 5G infrastructure will put the ground among the most technologically advanced sporting venues in the UK.
The first United Rugby Championship fixture at St Helen’s is set: the Dragons visit Swansea on 24 October.
On the field, four signings headline the rebuilt squad: former Wallabies captain Liam Wright from Queensland Reds, Australia centre Lalakai Foketi, versatile back Lawson Creighton from the NSW Waratahs, and Welsh back Dan John, returning from Exeter Chiefs. Wales fly-half Dan Edwards stays, alongside a group of academy graduates committing their futures.
Head coach Mark Jones, in post since December 2024, said the club was “extremely positive about the direction of the rugby programme”, praising the resilience players and coaches showed last season.
“There is a good balance within the group between experience and exciting young talent,” he said. “We want to compete, we want to keep developing players and we want to give our supporters a team that represents this region with pride.”
Off the field, the club says season membership sales for the first year at St Helen’s have passed last season’s total and its own expectations, with sponsorship income growing and new partnerships to be announced in the coming weeks.
Ospreys director Roger Blyth said the last year had tested everyone connected with the club, but that the response from supporters, players, staff and partners had been exceptional. “There is real momentum around the club,” he said. “There is still a great deal of work ahead, but we are excited about where the Ospreys are going.”
Ospreys in the Community foundation director Tom Sloane said the move gave the charity the chance to bring more people together, with St Helen’s intended as a year-round home for Swansea RFC, schools, clubs, Swansea University and community programmes.
The WRU’s three-team future starts in 2028/29, with Cardiff and the Dragons holding guaranteed licences. The licensing process begins in December, and concludes by the end of the 2026/27 season at the latest.
Whichever way that call goes, the Ospreys’ message on the eve of the season is the one in the board’s final line: this is the beginning of a new chapter.
Related stories from Swansea Bay News
WRU: Cardiff and Dragons safe as Ospreys and Scarlets left fighting for one west Wales licence
The announcement that left the west with one licence for two teams.
SCARLETS: ‘Yma o Hyd’ as club tells supporters focus is unchanged
The Llanelli region’s own message on the licence fight.
ST HELEN’S: Main stand stripped to its skeleton, and it’s moving to the Mumbles end
Drone footage of the £7.6m rebuild taking the old ground apart.
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