Ospreys chief breaks silence after WRU confirms Cardiff Rugby sale plan

Ospreys chief executive Lance Bradley has moved to reassure supporters after days of speculation, saying the region will continue competing until at least the end of the 2026/27 season but offering no wider clarity on its long‑term future.

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Lance Bradley, chief executive of the Ospreys, has issued a message to supporters following the WRU’s confirmation that Y11 is in talks to buy Cardiff Rugby. (Image: Ospreys)

Bradley issued the update after the Welsh Rugby Union confirmed its intention to sell Cardiff Rugby to Y11 Sport & Media, the same ownership group that already controls the Ospreys. The WRU announcement triggered fresh concern across the region, particularly as the union’s statement focused almost entirely on Cardiff and offered only a brief reference to the Ospreys.

In his message to supporters, Bradley said he understood the frustration caused by the lack of communication in recent days, explaining that commercial confidentiality had prevented him from addressing the leaked news earlier. He said he recognised the uncertainty this had created and wanted to share as much information as he was able to.

Bradley confirmed that Y11 and the WRU have now entered a 60‑day exclusivity period to negotiate the Cardiff deal. He stressed that Y11 would continue to own and operate the Ospreys regardless of whether the Cardiff sale is completed, and that both teams would remain separate entities.

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He also said the Ospreys’ place in the URC and EPCR competitions is secure until at least the end of the 2026/27 season, adding that preparations for next year are continuing as normal.

Bradley said he is in “constant communication” with Y11 and promised that any long‑term decisions affecting the region would be communicated first to Ospreys players, staff and their families before being shared publicly. He urged supporters to continue backing the team, beginning with this weekend’s match against the Lions, saying their support “has always made a big difference”.

The statement comes after several weeks of uncertainty surrounding the region, with players publicly calling for clarity, coaches expressing concern about the lack of answers from union leadership, and MPs questioning WRU executives in Westminster about the handling of the situation.

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Bradley said he would provide a full update on the Ospreys’ long‑term position once the exclusivity period ends and the Cardiff transaction is either completed or abandoned.

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