Editor‘SMOKING GUN’ MINUTES: Council publishes secret notes as Ospreys death date revealed
Swansea Council has taken the extraordinary step of publishing the redacted notes to prove that the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) plans to axe the region after the 2026/27 season.
The “smoking gun” document directly contradicts claims made by WRU boss Abi Tierney, who suggested this week that no final decision had been made on the club’s future.
According to the minutes, Council Leader Rob Stewart was told in a January meeting that the Ospreys would “no longer exist” as a professional men’s team if the controversial sale of Cardiff Rugby to Y11 goes ahead.
The documents even show that Ms Tierney began proposing “alternative uses” for a redeveloped St Helen’s ground once the regional team had been disbanded.
Cllr Stewart hit out at the WRU leadership, branding their recent media comments “deeply concerning and misleading.”
He said:
“They contradict what we were clearly told in our meeting. We cannot allow the WRU to misrepresent the position or mislead players, staff, and supporters.”
The minutes, which include track-changed comments from Ms Tierney herself, reveal a tense showdown behind closed doors.
In one section, Ospreys CEO Lance Bradley reportedly admitted the club was losing £2.5 million a year and was:
“going to fold whatever happened.”
The Council has now launched a high-stakes legal battle and referred the WRU to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to block the deal.
It is the latest escalation in a seismic showdown that has seen 51 clubs move to axe the WRU chairman.
The Council previously launched legal action over the Cardiff sale, accusing the union of “moving the goalposts.”
The WRU had reportedly tried to block the publication of the minutes, claiming the meeting was confidential.
However, Cllr Stewart insisted the public has a right to know, adding: “The Council has a duty to act in the public interest and that means being open, honest and transparent.”
Despite the bleak outlook from the WRU, Ospreys Director Rob Davies insisted the club is “financially committed” to a long-term future at St Helen’s.
He said:
“We believe Wales should retain four regional teams. Our future lies at a redeveloped St Helen’s.”
The revelation comes after Alun Wyn Jones warned that losing the Ospreys would leave a “rugby black hole” across Swansea Bay.
The Senedd has also delivered a damning verdict on the WRU’s handling of the crisis, accusing them of a “dereliction of duty.”
With the 2026/27 season now marked as a potential end date, the battle for the survival of regional rugby in West Wales has reached a point of no return.
The redacted minutes in full
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