The WRU have made a significant announcement as Y11 also speak out
12:00, 22 Apr 2026Updated 12:29, 22 Apr 2026
The deal for Ospreys owners Y11 to buy Cardiff has fallen through(Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency)
The Welsh Rugby Union has confirmed a proposed takeover of Cardiff Rugby by Y11 Sports & Media has fallen through, but says it still plans to cut the number of professional clubs in Wales from four to three by the end of the 2027/28 season.
Following a period of exclusivity which lasted the best part of three months, both the WRU and Y11 jointly agreed the Ospreys owners should withdraw from the purchase of Cardiff due to “constructive discussions”.
As a result Cardiff Rugby will remain under WRU ownership until it makes “commercial and strategic sense to revisit this decision”.
The WRU says it is still committed to reducing the number of professional teams to three and will outline a plan for how it intends to achieve this in June.
It is highly likely they will announce plans in June to go out to tender for the three licences with one based in Cardiff, one in the east and one in the west.
A meeting of the WRU Board on Thursday, April 16, approved the decision.
It also reaffirmed that, subject to the completion of due diligence, both the Ospreys and Scarlets will be offered the opportunity to enter the PRA25 agreement to bring them in line with Dragons RFC and Cardiff Rugby.
The WRU says the Ospreys are set to sign PRA25 shortly.
“We know we need to move to three clubs, nothing has changed there, for both financial and performance reasons and so we can invest in the right way in our pathway to ensure the future of the game,” said WRU CEO Abi Tierney.
“But this move brings stability to the system where it is needed and a calmness and assuredness to our plans for the future.
“Y11 presented the best bid for Cardiff Rugby but the WRU has ultimately concluded that it is in the best interests of Welsh rugby for Cardiff Rugby to remain under WRU ownership for now.
“We remain undeterred from our ambition to move to three professional sides, this is necessary for the future of our game.
“We will continue to invest the £28m we have earmarked for our pathways over the next five years, in a phased way, and we retain our ambitions for commercial growth in the professional game.
“I would like to add that we are all very grateful to Y11 for the professionalism and commitment to Welsh rugby they have displayed throughout this process.”
The WRU’s decision to cut one team was triggered by the Ospreys and Scarlets not signing PRA 25 last year following the WRU’s purchase of Cardiff after the club entered administration.
They feared the WRU had plans to turn Cardiff into a super club at the expense of the other three, although the Dragons did sign PRA 25.
After initially announcing an “optimal solution” of two teams the WRU launched a consultation and then settled on three teams with significant investment into the pathway as the best way forward.
This has been met with staunch resistance from supporters, politicians and former players, with both Swansea Council and the Scarlets having launched legal action against the WRU.
Last month Swansea Council released minutes from a meeting between WRU CEO Tierney, Ospreys CEO Lance Bradley and council leader Rob Stewart.
According to Swansea Council leader Stewart if Ospreys owners Y11 had succeeded in buying Cardiff the Ospreys would have become a semi-professional Super Rygbi Cymru outfit.
The WRU has denied this to be the case but with Y11 no longer interested in buying Cardiff the governing body has failed to reach consensus on who the three teams should be moving forward.
“PRA25 for the Ospreys and top tier rugby in Swansea, partnering with Swansea Council and developing St Helen’s is the right outcome, whilst continuing to work with the WRU to further build a better pro rugby environment,” read a statement from Y11 Sports & Media.
“We are grateful to the WRU for their openness and transparency throughout the negotiation period.
“Thank you to the Ospreys supporters for their patience and understanding, we know these have been worrying times for fans.”
These steps will provide stability and clarity to Welsh rugby’s top tier as the WRU defines the steps to implement its ‘Way Forward’ strategy to reduce the number of professional clubs in Wales from four to three by the end of the 2027/28 season.
A reduction to three Welsh clubs was always dependent on the United Rugby Championship finding a replacement with Ealing Trailfinders and London Irish potential options.
“This decision will hopefully contribute towards stability to the system in Wales,” said interim PRB chair Marianne Økland.
“It’s good to see that the WRU Board has kept an open mind and evolved its thinking in line with developments.
“Welsh rugby now have an opportunity to work together to create a sustainable future for the whole game in Wales which is a priority for us all.”
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