Story bySTEVE DOUGLASFri, January 23, 2026 at 11:51 AM UTC·2 min readThree years later, Wales' rugby players might again be contemplating a strike during the Six Nations. The future of the Welsh game has been thrown into uncertainty by proposals from the country's rugby federation to cut one of its four men’s professional regional teams — Cardiff, Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementOn Thursday, the Welsh Rugby Union announced that the owners of Ospreys — Y11 Sport and Media — have been chosen as the preferred option to buy Cardiff, which went into administration, a form of bankruptcy protection, in April last year. While the WRU said the Ospreys will continue to play in domestic and European competitions “until at least the end of the 26-27 season,” there are concerns about the long-term future of a team that includes Wales captain Jac Morgan. The Welsh Rugby Players’ Association, the organization which represents Wales’ players, said in a statement there has been an “unacceptable strain on players, staff and their families” during the process. It is nowdemanding “meaningful clarity on arrangements for next season" by Feb. 6. That is a day before Wales' first match of the Six Nations, away to England. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement“This deadline is essential to prevent further disruption, provide stability, and allow players and clubs to make informed decisions," the players' union said.
