Ospreys sign WRU deal, Scarlets yet to agree

Ospreys have become the third Welsh region to sign a fresh Professional Rugby Agreement (PRA) with the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU).

It ends a lengthy stand-off, however uncertainty remains over their long-term future with the agreement expiring at the end of the 2027-28 season.

All four Welsh regions were on track to sign a new deal before Cardiff were rescued from going bust when the WRU took them over in 2025.

Dragons subsequently joined Cardiff in agreeing the new PRA while Ospreys and west Wales rivals Scarlets campaigned for assurances Cardiff would not be favoured among the cohort.

Scarlets are now the only Welsh professional team not to have yet signed the deal.

Ospreys' agreement has come in the week they announced a £1.8m loss for their last financial year.

A statement from the region read: "The agreement, which runs until the end of the 27-28 season, signals a period of stability for the region.

"A key element of the new agreement is that it provides for greater collaboration with the WRU, including growth of alignment on the playing side in particular.

"With work now underway at Ospreys' new stadium at St Helen's, and now the signing of the PRA, the region is looking forward to continuing its proud history as a key player in Welsh rugby."

WRU chief executive Abi Tierney confirmed Scarlets have yet to sign the agreement which the governing body says "is aimed at establishing financial stability and creating the foundations for success in all areas of the professional game in Wales".

Tierney said: "I am very pleased that constructive discussions with Y11 Sport & Media have led to the Ospreys signing the agreement. Three out of four of our regional men's clubs are now on PRA25 and due diligence work with the Scarlets is continuing."

Chair of Welsh rugby's Professional Rugby (PRB) Board Marianne Okland said: "I have been very encouraged by the collaborative way negotiations between the WRU and the professional clubs have been conducted over recent months.

"This positive spirit is also evidenced by the meaningful progress made on the future model for the development pathways."

The WRU announced in October 2025 they were planning to cut one of the four professional sides, prompting fears among Ospreys' fans and players they were being targeted, especially after the WRU announced in January 2026 that Ospreys owners were the preferred bidder to buy Cardiff.

That deal with Y11 subsequently fell through in April with the WRU announcing that the four professional sides would exist in their current guise until the end of the 2027-28.

Ospreys and Scarlets were invited to sign the new PRA while the WRU is pressing ahead with its policy of cutting a professional team by 2028 and has promised to outline how it plans to achieve that by the end of June 2026.

Having played home games at the Brewery Field in Bridgend last season, work has started on Ospreys new St Helen's home in Swansea.

The region are hoping to play their first game in Swansea against the Dragons on 24 October.