Statement: Cardiff Rugby 'clarify' their future

Cardiff Rugby has addressed recent speculation and media reports regarding the future of the club and proposed merger with local URC rivals, the Ospreys.

Reports over the weekend have the Ospreys majority owners, Y11 Sport, in talks with Cardiff management over a possible joining of the two URC sides.

The Daily Mail revealed that 'exploratory talks' over a merger between the two teams have taken place and statements from both sides have now confirmed that talks are in their early stages.

However, the Ospreys have since said they would not being leaving their current home at the Liberty Stadium and now Cardiff, who own Cardiff Arms Park in the Welsh capital, have said that they are will not being moving either.

The statement reads: "Cardiff Rugby would like to clarify our future following media reports and speculation in recent days.

"Following the sad passing of Life President Peter Thomas earlier this year there were always going to be changes at the club.

"The Thomas family have nevertheless continued to support us and have underwritten the new agreement with the Welsh Rugby Union, for which we are enormously grateful.

"We have now received the first allocation of WRU monies, with the remainder scheduled for early next month. This agreement secures the club’s future for the four year term of the agreement, albeit with reduced budgets.

"Since Peter’s sad passing, there have inevitably been numerous enquiries and approaches around the purchase of his shareholding. It is our board’s duty to listen to, and consider, all approaches that could improve our revenues and strengthen the club moving forward. These conversations are commercially sensitive and therefore confidential at this stage."

The Welsh capital region say they remain committed to Cardiff Arms Park and are eagerly anticipating the new season and a return to the Champions Cup.

"Professional rugby is undoubtedly facing significant challenges across the whole game, but Cardiff Rugby will continue and will remain at Cardiff Arms Park."

"We are looking forward to the new season and a return to the Champions Cup, with the squad returning for pre-season last week.

"We truly appreciate the continued support of our loyal fan base at this time and will issue further communications as and when appropriate. In the interim, we thank you for your continued patience."

Many believe that Welsh rugby can not sustain three fully professional sides and the inevitabl eculling of one side has been a topic of conversation in Welsh rugby circles for the best part of a decade. Yet with three of the Welsh regions privately owned, and the Dragons soon to effectively become private again after buying themselves out of WRU ownership, it is yet to be seen how all four self interested clubs can come to agreement on a matter that would see one of their number on the chopping block.