Decision looming as deadline passes for potential Cardiff bidders

A DECISION is expected in the coming days which will shape the future of Welsh rugby after the deadline for final offers from two bidders to buy Cardiff from the Welsh Rugby Union passed on Monday.

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A Hollywood-backed consortium and one other unconfirmed interested party are now waiting on the union's decision, which is likely to come quickly. Speculation has mounted the other bidder could be Ospreys owners Y11 Sport & Media, with the sports investment group understood to have been involved in discussions.

While that has neither been confirmed or denied, WRU bosses have previously expressed confidence they can reach consensus in their efforts to cut from four to three pro teams, with the possibility of a current rival ownership group deciding to buy Cardiff previously mooted as one way to do that. Indeed, with no appetite for mergers and no team prepared to fall on its sword, such a scenario would appear to be the only way for the WRU to avoid having to launch a lengthy tendering process that would pit the teams against each other in a battle for survival.