Cardiff used to uncertainty as deadline looms

Cardiff head coach Corniel van Zyl says his squad are used to uncertainty as a pivotal deadline over the club's ownership looms.

Proposals for Ospreys owners, Y11 Sports & Media, to buy rivals Cardiff from the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) are set to fall through.

Y11 have been in discussions to buy Cardiff from the WRU in a process that started in January.

A 60-day period of exclusivity was initially granted, followed by another 30 days.

The latest deadline ends on Wednesday 22 April, two days before Cardiff host Ospreys in a United Rugby Championship (URC) Welsh derby on Friday night (19:00 BST), with the two sides also linked by these off-the-field issues.

If the move breaks down, the WRU will initially continue to own the Cardiff side they rescued from administration in April 2025.

"The uncertainty [has not] gone away but it's definitely I think almost something we have got used to, so we just crack on," said van Zyl.

With no boardroom bosses from the WRU or regions prepared or able to answer direct questions on the issue, it is left to coaches to field media queries.

Ospreys head coach Mark Jones addressed the off-the-field-issues after the 21-17 victory against Sharks.

Van Zyl was asked about how he and his players were coping with the continued uncertainty about the club's future ownership.

"We normally discuss as a group and the players are very organised in terms of getting communication between them," said van Zyl.

"It is more between the players in the group that they discuss stuff like that and the WRPA (Welsh Rugby Players Association) also inform the players and the club whatever they know.

"So between those channels, we get what we need to know."

Van Zyl says it is business as usual and that his job is to concentrate on matters off the field.

Cardiff are aiming to keep alive hopes of finishing in the top eight of the URC and reach the play-offs as they face Ospreys.

With three league games remaining, Cardiff lie seventh with only seven points separating second and ninth place.

Cardiff will be without Wales wing Mason Grady, who was forced off in the second half of the 28-24 victory against Scarlets with a fractured thumb.

"That's not great at the moment," said van Zyl.

"We'll assess it and make sure we know what the next step is but it's fair to say he's out for a little while."

Wing Josh Adams and centre Steffan Emanuel clashed heads in training last week which ruled them out of the Scarlets win.

"They're both following their return-to-play protocols," said van Zyl.

"We're still just checking them out to know where they are."

Harri Millard is missing with a calf injury but Wales Under-20s wing Tom Bowen is available for selection.

Cardiff have been linked with a move for Namibia centre Le Roux Malan for next season, which van Zyl described as "probably still rumours at the moment".

Australia loose-head prop Scott Sio, 34, is also being lined up by Cardiff, with Wales international Corey Domachowski primed for a move to Scarlets.