Council Leader Rob Stewart said the WRU’s intention to cut Wales’ professional sides from four to three amounted to “erasing” the Ospreys from the elite game, and urged union bosses to “hit pause” before making what he called a catastrophic mistake for Swansea and Welsh rugby.
The row erupted after the WRU confirmed it has entered negotiations with Y11 — the owners of the Ospreys — to buy Cardiff Rugby. The move has intensified fears that the Ospreys are being lined up for the chop while the WRU focuses on securing a future for the capital’s club.
Stewart said the council had been left “shocked” by what it heard during meetings with senior WRU and Ospreys officials. He said the union gave a “clear indication” that it saw no long‑term place for the Ospreys in its new structure.
Cllr Rob Stewart, Leader of Swansea Council, said:
“The council is shocked by these proposals as we have been working with the Ospreys on the redevelopment of St Helen’s as their new home of regional rugby in Swansea.”
He said the revelation was especially galling given the scale of the redevelopment work already underway. Stewart said the council cannot commit public money to the project while the Ospreys’ future is being placed in jeopardy.
Cllr Rob Stewart said:
“It was hugely disappointing to hear what the WRU had to say. There was a clear indication that they saw no viable future for the Ospreys within their new arrangements.”
Stewart said he had personally urged WRU chief executive Abi Tierney to stop the process immediately and rethink the entire approach.
Cllr Rob Stewart said:
“I have urged Abi Tierney, the WRU Chief Executive, to pause their process now and to think again.”
He also challenged the union’s reasoning and the fairness of its approach, saying the WRU’s logic “did not stack up” and questioning the criteria being used to decide which region survives.
Cllr Rob Stewart said:
“I did not agree with the rationale they outlined. I questioned both the process and the criteria they’ve adopted. If four regions is no longer possible, then the process must at least be fair.”
Stewart said the WRU’s position was impossible to justify when only one region — Cardiff — is currently in administration, and that it is the only team owned by the WRU itself. He said any decision should be based on performance, player development and success.
Cllr Rob Stewart said:
“On those criteria, the Ospreys stand out as Wales’ most successful region. By any fair measure, they should be retained.”
He said rugby supporters across Swansea and Wales “know this is the wrong decision” and called on the WRU to “do the right thing” before irreparable damage is done to the sport.
Despite the escalating row, the council said its wider plans for a state‑of‑the‑art sports park — including the Wales National Pool, rugby and cricket facilities — remain on track. It said it will continue working with sporting bodies, universities and investors to push the project forward.
