Furious Welsh fans ‘feeling numb’ after ‘unanimously approved’ WRU decision branded ‘disgraceful’ and ‘despicable’
The future of the Ospreys is now looking bleak following the WRU board decision regarding the takeover of Cardiff, inset (IPNHO)
Supporters’ 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.
A core part of the WRU’s cost-cutting mission is to reduce the regional game from four clubs to three.
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, the online reaction has been one of anger.
It is believed the WRU, which took over Cardiff 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.
“Tonight’s breaking news is hugely concerning for Ospreys supporters,” read an Ospreys Supporters Club social media message after the WRU story on Y11 buying Cardiff broke on Monday night.
“Screwed us all right over…”
“At 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.
“From that ‘extensive consultation’ in which the presentation pack was littered with errors and self-serving misinformation, the survey which wasn’t 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.”
Ospreys fans weren’t the only people upset, as CF10 Rugby Trust, the official Cardiff Rugby supporters group, was equally distraught. “If they weren’t already aware, the fan responses to this news on social media should tell the WRU just how badly this news is going down,” they said.
“This 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.”
A report on walesonline.co.uk 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.
The statement issued by the WRU about Monday’s board meeting read: “The WRU board met for its January meeting today and considered the recommendation from the executive leadership team on the sale of Cardiff Rugby.
“The 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.
“We 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.”
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