Ospreys move Boxing Day derby from Liberty Stadium to Parc y Scarlets
- Published
Parc y Scarlets is Scarlets' home ground but will nominally be home for Ospreys on Boxing Day
Ospreys have moved their Boxing Day match against Scarlets to Llanelli because Swansea City are replacing the Liberty Stadium pitch.
Ospreys have confirmed the Pro14 match will remain an official home match but will be held at Parc y Scarlets.
"We appreciate the urgency around rectifying the problem with the Liberty Stadium pitch," said Ospreys managing director Andrew Millward.
"The Ospreys and Swansea City have always had a close relationship."
Millward added: "While the Ospreys are disappointed at not being able to play our Boxing Day fixture at home, we appreciate this is a unique situation for Swansea City and acknowledge relaying the pitch is something that has to happen now."
Swansea City started laying the new surface straight after the Championship match against Barnsley on 19 December and hope it is ready for their league game against Reading 11 days later.
Ospreys and Scarlets are set for their Boxing Day clash
Ospreys have previously played league games within the region in Bridgend, Neath and Swansea over the last couple of years when the Liberty Stadium has been unavailable.
Toby Booth's side have been training at St Helen's in Swansea and hosted Benetton in a 24-22 victory there in November.
Scarlets chief operating officer Phil Morgan said: "When the Ospreys reached out to us following the decision to replace the Liberty Stadium surface, the Scarlets board were happy to offer support to both the Ospreys and Swansea City Football Club, who have used the facilities here at Parc y Scarlets in the past.
"Scarlets and Ospreys may be fierce competitors on the pitch, but it's important the whole of Welsh sport works together off it and we look forward to what should be a great derby match at Parc y Scarlets on Boxing Day."