Regional rivals making their case to remain

BOTH Ospreys and Scarlets have responded to the Welsh Rugby Union's announcement that they will cut to three professional men's clubs, with both outlining what they can offer to the Welsh game.

- BEN JAMES

The WRU announced on Friday their intention to go from four to three clubs in the coming years. No exact timescale has been offered, but the WRU is keen to reach the desired number as soon as possible.

Geographically, the three clubs would see one based in the east, one in Cardiff and one in the west.

Despite WRU chair Richard Collier-Keywood denying that the governing body was pitting clubs against each other, it's hard not to read the "one club in the west" part as becoming a shootout between Ospreys, who had planned to move to a redeveloped stadium at St Helen's, Swansea, next year and their fierce rivals, Llanelli-based Scarlets.

Both West Wales sides issued statements on Friday evening in response to the WRU's news with both touching upon similar themes of why each respective club should stay as they both outlined their intention to work with the governing body.

"Ospreys Rugby met with Malcolm Wall and Dave Reddin from the WRU this morning, where they laid out their plans for Welsh rugby," read the Ospreys statement on Friday night.

"Ospreys are Wales's most successful region, having won more league titles, produced players who've won more Welsh caps and been selected for more British and Irish Lions tours than any other region.

"We will continue to engage with the WRU with the intention of reaching an agreement which continues that proud tradition.

"Our intention is and always has been to find a solution which works in the best interests of Welsh rugby and Ospreys rugby, not only at an elite level but across the entirety of the game and the communities involved in it."

There was also political support for keeping a team in Swansea.