Roberts hopes Welsh rugby reaches right decision

Jamie Roberts played 94 internationals for Wales

Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) board member Jamie Roberts says he is hoping the right decisions will be made about the future of the game.

A controversial proposal to cut the number of professional men's sides in Wales from four to two was the WRU's preferred option presented in August.

There has been opposition from players, supporters and clubs to the plan.

WRU director of rugby Dave Reddin last week presented his findings to the union's board this week following a public consultation.

Former Wales centre Roberts is one of three former internationals on the 12-strong WRU board that will make the final decision by the end of October.

"There are important decisions to be made," Roberts told S4C.

"It's a privilege for me to be involved at this moment in a very special moment for Welsh rugby.

"Hopefully the right decisions will be made for the benefit of Welsh rugby as a whole."

Ospreys rule out Scarlets merger

The three other options tabled by the WRU include two proposals suggesting a reduction in one side by keeping three teams. These choices are now seriously being considered by the WRU board.

Cardiff are owned by the WRU after the side temporarily went into administration in April.

With WRU chief executive Abi Tierney having already said she cannot see a situation where professional rugby would not be played in the Welsh capital, Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets will be nervously watching what happens.

Reddin hopes a consensus could be reached if regions needed to be cut, with mergers an option.

But Ospreys chief executive Lance Bradley says he can not imagine a merger with west Wales rivals Scarlets - that prospect having previously come close in 2019.

"I credit myself as a rather imaginative person but even I can't imagine that," Bradley told BBC Radio Wales Sport.

"I can't see how it could work. It was proposed a few years ago but there would be so many barriers to it now that I find it very hard to imagine."

Bradley hopes to have clarity by the end of October.

He added: "We have had constructive conversations with the WRU and felt Dave Reddin genuinely listened, but it will be them who has to make the decision."

Lance Bradley was appointed as Ospreys chief executive in January 2024

The future of the £5million redevelopment of St Helen's ground in Swansea - primarily funded by the city council - rests on the decision later this month.

"Some work has started but it has always been the case [that] Swansea council will release the funding once they know what the future is," said Bradley.

"Once we get some certainty, we can press ahead with it."

This delay means Ospreys will play home matches for one season at the Brewery Field in Bridgend and they started with a 24-0 win against Zebre on Saturday.

"It is a super ground and the atmosphere is fantastic," said Bradley.

"Because we have known we were coming here for a while, we have been able to do some work on the ground and the pitch, so we are confident it will stand up to the rigours of the season."

Uncertain future for players

Ospreys are also waiting to see whether star forwards Jac Morgan and Dewi Lake will stay, with the pair out of contract at the end of the 2025-26 season.

"You always want to hang onto your best players and when they are coming up to the end of their contracts, it is always a time when they can be approached by other teams," said Bradley.

All Welsh players face an uncertain future but Ospreys head coach Mark Jones says his squad are handling things "exceptionally well".

"The way they play and attitude tells you what sort of mindset they're in," he said.

"They're not burying their heads in sand and pretending it's not there and they're acknowledging what's there when they need to,"