Try GOLD - Free
Decision looming as deadline passes for potential Cardiff bidders
Western Mail
|January 14, 2026
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.
-
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.
This story is from the January 14, 2026 edition of Western Mail.
Subscribe to Magzter GOLD to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 10,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
MORE STORIES FROM Western Mail
Western Mail
I paid £12 for chips and it was totally worth it
Are loaded chips worth a 40-minute drive? Portia Jones went to investigate
4 mins
January 17, 2026
Western Mail
Calls for dementia test in assisted death cases
PATIENTS must have a dementia assessment before they can seek an assisted death, Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson has said.
2 mins
January 17, 2026
Western Mail
Government ‘dragging feet’ on single-sex spaces
THE UK Government is facing accusations by the Darlington nurses of “dragging its feet” on single-sex spaces guidance, while the NHS has been warned it must ensure safe spaces for women.
2 mins
January 17, 2026
Western Mail
Boy whose quick thinking saved mum is honoured
A 12-YEAR-OLD boy has been awarded a Chief Constable's Commendation for his bravery in saving his mum's life when she suffered a medical episode while driving along a busy road.
1 mins
January 17, 2026
Western Mail
Players invited for key talks with the PRB next week
WELSH rugby players have been invited to attend a key meeting of the Professional Rugby Board next week.
1 mins
January 17, 2026
Western Mail
'Crook' who stole £27k from charity spared jail
THE trusted treasurer of a charity spent years stealing money from the organisation and fiddling the books to cover his tracks, a court has heard.
2 mins
January 17, 2026
Western Mail
Villa row police boss retires
THE chief constable of West Midlands Police is to retire after his force faced criticism over the decision to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv football fans from attending a football match against Aston Villa.
1 min
January 17, 2026
Western Mail
How a great horror tale grew from the ruins at a Roman temple site
Philip Dewey discovers the work of a Welsh writer whose work went on to inspire Oscar-winning films and still sends a chill up the spines of readers today
2 mins
January 17, 2026
Western Mail
A sandwich worth forking out for
Lunch is not just for soggy supermarket sandwiches or sausage rolls - this Cardiff deli is punching way above the ordinary, writes Kathryn Williams
3 mins
January 17, 2026
Western Mail
20,000 starlings and one epiphany
THE binoculars were a gift to myself last summer.
4 mins
January 17, 2026
Listen
Translate
Change font size