Supporters\u2019 groups in Wales are furious after reports emerged that a Welsh Rugby Union board meeting on Monday decided to enter a period of exclusivity to finalise a deal with Ospreys owners Y11 Sports and Media to buy Cardiff.<\/p>\n
A core part of the WRU\u2019s cost-cutting mission is to reduce the regional game from four clubs to three<\/a>.<\/p>\n While official confirmation has yet to emerge that it is Y11 who are poised to take over Cardiff and bring an end to the Ospreys<\/a>, the online reaction has been one of anger.<\/p>\n It is believed the WRU, which took over Cardiff<\/a> in April 2025 after it temporarily went into administration, want a deal clinched as early as next week. The development has sent shockwaves through the game in Wales, with supporters groups venting their anger at the decision that has been reached.<\/p>\n \u201cTonight\u2019s breaking news is hugely concerning for Ospreys supporters,\u201d read an Ospreys Supporters Club social media message<\/a> after the WRU story on Y11 buying Cardiff broke on Monday night.<\/p>\n \u201cScrewed us all right over\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAt this time, we call on Y11 to address the concerns directly and without delay. After a prolonged period of uncertainty culminating in this news this evening, the least our supporters deserve is a full explanation. From the off, this shambles of the WRU board has screwed us all right over and taken Welsh rugby for fools.<\/p>\n \u201cFrom that \u2018extensive consultation\u2019 in which the presentation pack was littered with errors and self-serving misinformation, the survey which wasn\u2019t even GCSE standard and was skewed, leading and biased to provide the response they wanted, the car crash interviews, the leaks to the media and now apparently making the choice of buyer for Cardiff as one which only they wanted and which serves their agenda.\u201d<\/p>\n Ospreys fans weren\u2019t the only people upset, as CF10 Rugby Trust,<\/a> the official Cardiff Rugby supporters group, was equally distraught. \u201cIf they weren\u2019t already aware, the fan responses to this news on social media should tell the WRU just how badly this news is going down,\u201d they said.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is a disgraceful, despicable decision which will appal fans across Wales. CF10 will hold a full member meeting very shortly to ask for views on the way forward. Fans of both clubs will be feeling numb tonight. Nobody wants this. Apart from apparently a few people sat on the WRU board.\u201d<\/p>\n Eddie Jones\u2019 big questions for New Zealand Rugby and All Blacks stars over Scott Robertson exit as \u2018key things\u2019 not revealed<\/a><\/p>\n Who\u2019s hot and who\u2019s not: \u2018Transformed\u2019 Glasgow, Munster \u2018misery\u2019 and the \u2018only upside\u2019 to Scott Robertson \u2018mess\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n A report on walesonline.co.uk<\/a> stated that the second bidder in the running to take over Cardiff, along with Y11, was a consortium led by former Cardiff director Martyn Ryan, which included Rhino CEO Reg Clarke along with three prominent Hollywood producers.<\/p>\n The statement issued by the WRU<\/a> about Monday\u2019s board meeting read: \u201cThe WRU board met for its January meeting today and considered the recommendation from the executive leadership team on the sale of Cardiff Rugby.<\/p>\n \u201cThe board reviewed in detail the final two bids and unanimously approved the proposal to move forward with a preferred bidder into an exclusivity period. Following this decision, the WRU has obligations to liaise with a number of stakeholders over the next few days.<\/p>\n \u201cWe will then discuss the decision with the two bidders and the management of Cardiff Rugby and we expect to be in a position to have completed this by next week. The WRU hopes to finalise the detailed negotiations with the preferred bidder and sign a binding agreement within a matter of weeks.\u201d<\/p>\n Want more from Planet Rugby? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list<\/a> for world-class coverage you can trust.<\/p>\n