Former Ospreys favourite Tommy Bowe and ex-Ireland and Lions lock Donncha O’Callaghan gave their impassioned views
Former Ireland internationals Tommy Bowe and Donncha O’Callaghan(Image: The Offload/YouTube)
Two rugby greats have launched an extraordinary broadside at the WRU amid the growing uncertainty surrounding the future of the Ospreys, with Donncha O’Callaghan bluntly declaring: “F*** the Welsh Rugby Union.”
Speaking on The Offload podcast, former Ospreys favourite Tommy Bowe and ex-Ireland and Lions lock O’Callaghan delivered an emotional and furious response to the prospect of one Welsh region being cut, with the Ospreys widely feared to be the most vulnerable.
Two-time Celtic League winner with the Ospreys Bowe admitted he is “heartbroken” at the situation unfolding in Swansea.
“I have an Ospreys jersey up on the wall at home alongside my Ulster and Ireland jerseys,” he said.
“To think that the Ospreys… nobody knows, and this is the real frustrating thing at the minute. I just feel so bad for the current players, for the current staff, for the current supporters who know that the WRU are looking at probably trying to cut one of the regions.
“They’re going home to their wives, to their girlfriends, to their kids not knowing if they’re going to have a contract next year. Not knowing what’s going to happen in a couple of weeks’ time. Are they going to be told that that’s them finished?”
The uncertainty has been heightened by developments off the field, with Y11 — the company that owns the Ospreys — becoming preferential bidders to buy Cardiff, prompting fears over the long-term viability of the Swansea-based region.
“It looks like they’re going to be the ones wrapped up,” Bowe said. “But it’s the fact that there’s no transparency, there’s no knowledge.”
The former Ireland wing, who spent four years at the region during its golden era, reeled off the names that made up what O’Callaghan dubbed “the Avengers”. JOIN OUR WALES RUGBY FACEBOOK PAGE! Latest news, analysis and much more
“Shane Williams, Gavin Henson, James Hook, Lee Byrne, Mike Phillips, Justin Marshall, Marty Holah, Filo Tiatia, Ian Gough, Adam Jones… that’s not even naming half of them,” Bowe said.
“They’ve actually won the URC, the Celtic League, more times than any other team apart from Leinster. They’re one of the most successful teams in Welsh rugby.”
He pointed to the spine of Wales’ Six Nations and Grand Slam successes being built around Ospreys players.
“They’ve won six Six Nations and four Grand Slams in the last 20-odd years. The spine of that was Ospreys players, wasn’t it?”
But it was former Munster enforcer O’Callaghan who went furthest, urging ex-players and supporters to mobilise in defiance.
“I am actually delighted as ex-players that you’re starting to find your voice,” O’Callaghan said. “And I’d encourage them, man — fight the daylight there! F*** the Welsh Union… they are making rudderless decisions.
“You can’t lose the Ospreys, man. It’s unthinkable. Most amount of wins in the league and what, we just rip up the history?”
In a remarkable rallying cry, he added: “Connacht marched to Dublin and said, ‘No way.’ The Ospreys should be marching into Cardiff going, ‘No f****** way. No way.’”
Bowe admitted the situation “would break my heart” if the region were to close, recalling the fierce derby battles and the bond forged between rival communities in Swansea, Neath and Bridgend.
“They were always up against it trying to bring supporters from big clubs that used to hate each other together to support this Ospreys brand,” he said.
“Some say it worked, some say it didn’t, but there was a great bond.”
O’Callaghan echoed that sentiment, praising the identity built over two decades.
“Twenty years there of graft, hard work… all about to be ripped up. Welsh Union, honestly, you need to get your s*** together.”
Bowe revealed plans are already under way for ex-players and supporters to show visible backing at this weekend’s clash with the Dragons.
“‘The blood is black’ — that was always the motto,” he said. “Another big one we had was MFL — ‘Mates For Life’.
“It was a bit cringy at the time, but it’s times like this when everybody’s coming together to really fight for the Ospreys again.”
Follow all of our channels to ensure you stay up to date with the latest Welsh rugby news. Sign up to our free daily newsletter here and our WhatsApp channel here for all the breaking news.