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Welsh rugby’s governing body has recently doubled down on outlining its plans to cut the number of professional teams from four to three by 2028, with WRU-owned Cardiff and privately backed Dragons set to be given licences.<\/p>\n
That announcement has plunged the futures of Scarlets and Ospreys into doubt, with the west licence either being awarded to the Llanelli-based side or their Swansea-based rivals.<\/p>\n
WRU chiefs have said the process to decide the framework for the final decision will begin in December and finish before the end of the 2026-27 campaign.<\/p>\n
Scarlets managing director Jon Daniels has insisted there are no plans for a merger with Ospreys and called for greater transparency from the WRU.<\/p>\n
Ospreys have since responded publicly by stating they believe four professional sides is the way forward, telling the WRU its plan to reduce a team is wrong and not inevitable.<\/p>\n
The WRU board statement says they “have worked closely with the leadership of our men’s professional teams to address the financial and performance challenges facing our sport.”<\/p>\n
The board stated: “There is no realistic prospect of the game generating enough revenue to fund four professional teams competitively beyond 2028. <\/p>\n
“The available finances, and the player base needed to sustain them, are spread too thinly across four teams to give any of them what they need to succeed.”<\/p>\n
The WRU point to the extraordinary general meeting (EGM) held in April where they say the member clubs came together and were provided with a transparent update on our plans to address the challenges. <\/p>\n
They say the clubs were given the opportunity to raise questions and provide comment on the decisions that we as their board have taken.<\/p>\n
The statement continued: “Since then, and following the extensive consultation process undertaken last year, the WRU board has reconsidered in detail a range of factors when determining the future operating model for the men’s professional game. <\/p>\n
“These have included population and accessibility, rugby infrastructure, financial sustainability, player pathways, sporting performance, fans’ support and heritage.<\/p>\n
“As a professional, responsible group of individuals with the same aim, we have affirmed the difficult decision to move to a three-club model. <\/p>\n
“The new model is designed to develop a strong and sustainable professional structure and a pathway system that gives future players, across our rugby strongholds, the best opportunity to develop.<\/p>\n
“All involved in the leadership of our men’s professional game – the WRU and the four current clubs – have agreed to come together later this year to begin shaping what the future licensing arrangements for the new model will look like.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n