Lucy Vladev
BBC Wales

The host of an Ospreys podcast has dubbed the news the team is facing the axe "earth-shattering".

Samantha Imray, who fronts the Black Feather Osprey Rugby Fancast admitted the proposal was not something she was expecting.

"I’m really frustrated and as a Welsh rugby fan, not just a regional rugby fan, but as an Ospreys fan then it certainly seems pretty seismic for me," she said.

She recalled when the regions were originally formed for the start of the 2003/04 rugby union season.

"That heritage we’ve got for the last 22 years seems to be being thrown away," said Ms Imray.

The news was, she said, "earth-shattering as a fan".

"That sounds really dramatic but it is the thought of that I was a Swansea fan before this, I’ve been an Ospreys fan since the conception of the region and now I’m being expected to turn around and become a fan of a new entity all over again."

Ceri Coleman-Phillips
BBC Sport Wales rugby reporter

It's not surprising that Ospreys and Scarlets are taking longer with their statements given they appear the regions most at risk from today's announcement.

Richard Collier-Keywood said they are not in competition with each other, but given there is only one team earmarked for the west, fans on social media are struggling to see beyond that.

While we have yet to hear from the Scarlets camp, head coach Dwayne Peel has previously said he can't imagine Welsh rugby without the Llanelli-based side.

James McCarthy
BBC Wales

The WRU should reconsider its plans to ensure the Scarlets are protected, according to Plaid Cymru politicians in Carmarthenshire.

Cefin Campbell MS, Ann Davies MP and Adam Price MS said jointly they opposed the threat to the region at "a fundamental level".

"The Scarlets contribute so much to the sport at a national level, to the economy of Llanelli and Carmarthenshire, and they are central to the identity and culture of the area," they said.

“We once again call on the WRU to reconsider their plans and to ensure that any proposals protect the future of professional rugby in Carmarthenshire."

Image source, Plaid Cymru

The east of Wales seems set to retain a regional side going forward, with many fans in the rugby hotbed of Gwent doubtless breathing a big sigh of relief this evening.

Prior to today's announcement, former Dragons coach Lyn Jones said axing the region based at Rodney Parade would be justified.

Dragons are historically the least successful of the four Welsh regions and have not won a league game since beating the Ospreys in last season's opener.

Jones said they were the obvious choice to be discarded.

"What have the Dragons done for the game in Wales over the last 20 years? Almost nothing," Jones said last week.

"Everything in rugby is business so you have to be worried for them."

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Dragons are the second region to respond and like Cardiff, they too like what they have heard today.

"We have contributed constructively to the WRU’s recent consultation and have always been informed by the views of our fans, staff, players and partners.

"We are pleased that the WRU has accepted that elite rugby must remain in Gwent," a statement said.

"We are also encouraged that the strength and potential of rugby across Gwent has been recognised, from the deep community roots of our clubs to the pathway opportunities for young players.

"Sustaining and growing the game in this region is vital for Welsh rugby’s future, and we welcome the commitment to ensuring that Gwent continues to play a central role.

"There are still significant issues which we encourage the WRU to reconsider. It is essential that clubs retain control of rugby decisions; this will ensure a sustainable domestic model which helps build a successful national team.

"We will continue engaging with the WRU to make sure that the structures and governance of the game are made acceptable."

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

While we don't know what the future holds for Ospreys, what we do know is that their captain Jac Morgan has said he will leave Welsh rugby should they cease to exist.

He has already been linked to moves in France and the English Premiership.

Morgan is out of contract at the end of the current season.

WRU chair Richard Collier-Keywood says Scarlets and Ospreys are not competing against each other, despite the union announcing that only one team will be based in west Wales.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Cardiff are the first region to issue a statement.

The region are currently owned by the WRU, after temporary going into administration in April.

"The WRU set out their plans and we have been assured that one of the three teams will be in Cardiff," the statement said.

"We are relieved and encouraged by this. As a club we are confident in our position and viability, and our sole focus remains steadfast on ensuring Cardiff Rugby remains at the Arms Park as Cardiff Rugby.

"This will be reiterated with absolute confidence and clarity on our follow up meeting with the Welsh Rugby Union.

"While this is positive news for the future of Cardiff Rugby, we recognise this is a significant change, which creates uncertainty for many friends and colleagues across Welsh rugby.

"We now look forward to exploring the wider detail and working collaboratively to help shape the future of professional rugby in Wales as we approach our 150th anniversary season."

Ceri Coleman-Phillips
BBC Sport Wales rugby reporter

Collier-Keywood's quote "I have fun in this job every day" seems to have hit a nerve on social media.

It's been taken as insensitive given the future of a region hangs in the balance, along with the jobs of its players, coaches and staff.

Ceri Coleman-Phillips
BBC Sport Wales rugby reporter

The WRU said its consultation throughout September was "one of the most extensive" ever undertaken in Welsh sport.

There were more than 7,000 responses, and among them was for the WRU to approach English clubs to see if there could be an Anglo-Welsh league.

The idea of reigniting cross-border rivalries was backed by former Wales coach Warren Gatland last year.

Reddin reaffirmed today that that option was not on the table and says the WRU remains committed to the URC.

Image source, PA Media

Huw Thomas
Wales business correspondent

While the rugby regions are financially dependent on the WRU, they also have to generate commercial income and rely on private benefactors to plug the gaps in their balance sheets.

In August, Scarlets unveiled proposed new investors, the House of Luxury group, which promised to take over the commercial operations of the club but had yet to invest money as it awaited the results of the WRU's consultation.

I understand that there won't be a rushed decision on that relationship today.

The House of Luxury group wants to examine the detail of the WRU’s plan before commenting further.

Sponsors of all the regions will also want to understand the impact of future changes, though many will have deals which renew on an annual basis. They will be looking to negotiate new deals as the future structure of Welsh regional rugby becomes clearer.

James McCarthy
BBC Wales

The WRU is planning to grant three licences for Wales' professional men's rugby sides.

One will be in Cardiff, one in west Wales and one in east Wales.

There will be equal funding for the squads starting at £6.4m and rising to £7.8m per annum.

The WRU said: "This decision reflects the need to concentrate talent, improve competitiveness, and ensure financial sustainability."

Ceri Coleman-Phillips
BBC Sport Wales rugby reporter

Image source, Getty Images

The WRU is a key stakeholder in the United Rugby Championship (URC) - the 16-team league in which Cardiff, Dragons, Scarlets and Ospreys currently play.

Collier-Keywood said they would need to come to an agreement with the URC to reduce Wales' number of participating sides down to three.

Ceri Coleman-Phillips
BBC Sport Wales rugby reporter

So when can we expect to see change?

Dragons and Cardiff have funding deals until 2028, while Scarlets and Ospreys' run out in 2027.

The WRU says it will continue to honour those agreements, but the ambition is to get a new deal done as soon as possible.

This could be as early as next season.

Ceri Coleman-Phillips
BBC Sport Wales rugby reporter

Image source, PA Media

As I mentioned earlier, the women's game could be one of the main beneficiaries from today's announcement.

The WRU says it will fund two elite women's teams, and as well as having a women's national academy, there will be three women's Player Development Centres (PDCs).

Gwalia Lightning and Brython Thunder will also have more money thrown at them to compete in the Celtic Challenge.

This will be music to the ears of Wales' head coach Sean Lynn, who not only wants to find the next generation of Welsh talent but have them playing a high standard of rugby right here in Wales.

Amanda Bennett, chair of the women’s rugby committee, said it was a "transformative moment for women’s rugby in Wales".

"The WRU’s commitment to funding and infrastructure will help us attract and retain top talent and build a competitive domestic structure.

"We all saw the amazing success of the Women’s World Cup tournament this year. This is an area for growth in the sport both globally and in Wales.”

Dafydd Pritchard
BBC Sport Wales at the Principality Stadium

Having originally suggested two professional teams was the “optimal” option, Richard Collier-Keywood and Dave Reddin were asked today about the “mess” and if their positions were tenable.

“Definitely," Collier-Keywood said.

"I don’t accept it’s a mess at all. We went out with a consultation that had radical proposals… it was good to have debate… that’s absolutely necessary if we’re going to make change. We’re going to take people with us in that change… I have fun in this job every day."

That stance was endorsed by Reddin.

“Absolutely [my job is tenable]," he added. "The two-club model was predicated on the budget at the time… the union looked really hard at finances… when you look at level of investment, I’m massively excited about that. I don’t see a mess at all.”

Image source, Catherine Ivill

Dafydd Pritchard
BBC Sport Wales at the Principality Stadium

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

The WRU's director of rugby and elite performance Dave Reddin has also been speaking at the press conference.

He said the new proposals have been "built from the ground up to drive success" and were "designed to raise standards, restore the DNA of Welsh rugby and deliver the step forward in performance that everyone in Welsh rugby craves".

Reddin accepts that the original two-club model had been met with opposition and that they had listened to "concerns of players and the deep passion for the heritage of our teams".

"On balance we feel that this three-team structure protects that for most while managing a necessary reduction in a fair and respectful way. This creates a sustainable, joined-up system," he said.

Dafydd Pritchard
BBC Sport Wales at the Principality Stadium

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

"We have heard loud and clear from the consultation that people want a long-term fix and not a short-term patch," Richard Collier-Keywood told the press.

"We have listened and we agree."

“Any change is difficult, and we have current contractual obligations to the URC and our professional clubs that we will honour in the absence of new agreements.

"We want to involve the URC and the owners and managers of the current clubs in how we get to our chosen destination. This may take some time, but we will work hard to get this done as quickly as possible.

“If, however, it ultimately proves impossible to reach a consensus on how this change will happen then the WRU will run a fair and transparent tendering process for the three licences. We have already guaranteed that all existing player contracts will be honoured.”

The WRU has also confirmed additional investment of £40m across five years from the elite level to the pathways.

£28 million of this will go into:

• Improved coaching and education
• Men’s national academy with two regional training centres
• 12 men’s player development centres
• A women’s national academy
• Three women’s player development centres with nine satellite locations
• Additional investment in Super Rygbi Cymru and Celtic Challenge teams
• A new talent and insight management department which will manage talent identification, recruitment, retention and development across both men's and women's rugby