WRU Confirms Ospreys or Scarlets to Be Cut by 2028
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- Welsh Rugby Union confirmed plans to cut from four professional men's teams to three starting in the 2028-29 season, with one licence each for the capital, east, and west of Wales
- Cardiff Rugby and Dragons RFC are set to be offered the capital and east licences respectively, with the WRU stating only incumbent teams will be eligible for licensing
- Ospreys and Scarlets will compete for the remaining west Wales licence, though the WRU acknowledged a merger between the two — close to happening in 2019 — remains a practical possibility
- WRU vice chair John Manders said the governing body has begun building player pathways, financial support, and facilities around the new structure to 'safeguard the future of our game'
- The licensing framework process will begin in December, with stakeholder discussions scheduled after Wales' Nations Championship matches in November, and a final decision expected before the end of the 2026-27 season
- Professional Rugby Board chair Marianne Okland said the process aims to 'avoid prolonged uncertainty for clubs, players, supporters, investors and sponsors'
- The cut to three teams was deferred to 2028 after a proposed Y11 Sport & Media takeover of Cardiff collapsed earlier this year, prompting all four regions to sign a new Professional Rugby Agreement this summer
Why it matters: Two of Wales' four professional rugby regions — Ospreys and Scarlets — now face elimination by 2028, with the final decision expected before the 2026-27 season ends. The WRU has effectively narrowed the field to incumbents only and left a merger on the table, meaning roughly half the current professional player base, staff, and supporter infrastructure in west Wales could be consolidated or shut down within three years.
