Henry and Ratti latest to sign on with Ospreys

Ospreys forwards Rhys Henry and James Ratti have become the latest home-grown talent to commit their futures to the Swansea-based region.

Richard Bond
4 Min Read

A product of the Ospreys development pathway, Ratti has been an ever-present figure in the starting lineup since re-joining the region ahead of the 23/24 season.

Ratti, who can play in the second row and back row, has been in fine form during the current campaign where he was voted as Ospreys’ players player of the season. His work rate on both sides of the ball being a key determiner in the voting.

The 27-year-old has been rewarded by being called into the Wales squad for the two-Test tour of Japan in July.

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Ratti has previously won one cap after making his Wales debut against South Africa at Twickenham in June 2024.

“The last two years have been great for me since I returned to the Ospreys,” said Ratti.

“There’s a great bunch of boys here and we all play for each other, which shines through on a gameday.

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“Coming back to my hometown club was an easy decision for me, similarly to signing this new contract, and I’m looking forward to seeing what lies ahead in the future with this team.”

Head Coach, Mark Jones, said:

“Ratti has been incredibly valuable player for us since he made the decision to come back. He’s a real Swiss-army knife in both the respects of where he plays and how he plays.

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“Ratti is a real workhorse, his ability to carry and commit multiple defenders in contact adds a real dynamism to how we play and we’re really happy to have him staying with the club. To succeed in our league, you need players like Ratti, that are relentless and reliable.”

Meanwhile, Henry, a product of Cwmafan RFC, made his debut for the club in the 21/22 season and has made 44 appearances for the Ospreys.

The prop’s work in the scrum has often been applauded, with his impact performance off the bench in the Ospreys’ historic away win at Leicester in the 2023 Heineken Champions Cup being a particular highlight.

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Speaking on his new deal, Henry said:

“I’m really happy to be staying with my hometown club. This team means a lot to me, and I’ve enjoyed every minute of being here since I started my career at the Ospreys.

“This has been a frustrating year for me on the injury front but I’m grateful for the support I’ve received from the physios and S&C staff throughout my recovery. I’m looking forward to coming back next season and giving my all for the club and the supporters.”

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“Rhys is a player we have high hopes for at the Ospreys, so we’re all delighted that he has committed his future to the club,” said Ospreys boss Jones.

“Quality tightheads are a rare commodity in Wales, but we believe he has the potential to firmly fit into that category. Under Duncan’s [Jones] stewardship, we’re confident he will bounce back from his injuries last season and come back even stronger for the new campaign.”

[Lead image: Ospreys Rugby]

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Swansea-based sports journalist. Twitter: @RichBond00 Email: RichardBond@swanseabaynews.com
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