Swansea Council has accused the Welsh Rugby Union of “moving the goalposts” over its plans to overhaul the men’s professional game, following a Senedd committee hearing today.
WRU board members were questioned by the Senedd’s Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee about the Union’s restructuring proposals, which could see the number of professional teams in Wales cut from four to three.
During the session, the WRU claimed the Ospreys would be eligible to bid for a new West Wales franchise. However, Swansea Council Leader Rob Stewart said this latest position directly contradicts what council officials were told in a private meeting with the WRU and Ospreys on 22 January.
“At that meeting, it was made absolutely clear that the Ospreys would cease to exist as a professional regional team after the 2026/27 season,” Cllr Stewart said in a statement. “Yet today, the WRU told the Senedd committee that the Ospreys could bid for the West franchise.
“The WRU’s story keeps changing, and this latest version is completely at odds with what was discussed with us previously.”
The row adds another layer of complexity to the ongoing uncertainty in Welsh rugby, which includes the potential sale of Cardiff Rugby to Y11, the owners of the Ospreys.
Cllr Stewart questioned the credibility of the governing body, asking: “How can the rugby public of Wales have confidence in the WRU when the goalposts seem to shift every time the organisation comes under scrutiny?”
He concluded: “We will continue to stand up for the Ospreys and for rugby supporters across Wales. The facts must be published, and any process determining the future of our regional teams must be fair, transparent, and consistent. Our position remains unchanged and despite the WRU saying different things each time they are asked, we are confident our position will be vindicated when all the facts are known.”
