\n<\/p>\n
There has also been a petition organised by the official supporters groups of Ospreys, Cardiff and Dragons calling on the WRU to stop its plans of cutting a side. <\/p>\n
“This week is the resurgence of fans from all over Wales, the other regions joining as well as they realise how badly the Ospreys have been treated,” said Gough.<\/p>\n
“The transparency hasn’t been there. Other fans have realised that could happen to them as easily and as quickly in the manner which it has been done to Ospreys.<\/p>\n
“It has been the realisation of what was going on. We’ve been kept in the dark.<\/p>\n
“There is unrest among Cardiff supporters, they’re not happy about how this has been handled and the implications.<\/p>\n
“That has brought a sense that none of us are safe.”<\/p>\n
Gough also highlighted the human element.<\/p>\n
“This has been done in such a brutal manner, you have to think of people’s families and livelihoods and their mental state,” said Gough.<\/p>\n
“It affects everything and galvanised people against the WRU. It’s the Welsh village mentality that has brought us together with a common cause.”<\/p>\n
Not all Welsh fans have backed the petition, which has not been supported by “Crys 16”, the self-styled official supporters trust of the Scarlets who have a seat on the board of the organisation.<\/p>\n
Another fans body, calling themselves the Scarlets official supporters group, has urged people to sign the petition.<\/p>\n
This highlights the divide between the Scarlets fans because if the Ospreys somehow survived but WRU still wanted to cut a team, it would likely to be a straight shootout between Ospreys and Scarlets for the west licence in a possible tender process.<\/p>\n
So as Welsh rugby often encourages, even demands, self-preservation is the key. <\/p>\n
If the Ospreys are preserved as a professional side beyond 2027, with the preferred option for the WRU they are not, remains to be seen.<\/p>\n
At least the governing body now know the Ospreys fans will not go quietly. Whether that is enough to save their team, we will wait and see.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n