Ospreys (rugby union)

Ospreys
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Welsh Rugby Regions 2003

The Ospreys (Welsh: Y Gweilch), formerly the Neath-Swansea OspreysThe Ospreys is the brand name of the team, since they now have more associates than just Neath and Swansea. The official name of the company behind the team is still Neath-Swansea Ospreys (see also Ospreys Outrage! and Neath RFC - Ospreys fly!) (Gweilch Castell-Nedd Abertawe), are a Rugby Union team from Wales, playing in the Celtic League, Powergen Cup and European Rugby Cup/European Rugby Shield. At the start of the 2005-2006 season, they dropped Neath and Swansea from their name to become simply the Ospreys, although the company is still Neath-Swansea Ospreys.

History

The Ospreys are one of the five original clubs of the Welsh Regional Rugby Era. The club came into being in the summer of 2003 when the WRU controversially elected to reduce the current top tier of Welsh professional rugby from nine clubs into five regions, attempting to mirror the successful formats in Ireland and the Southern Hemisphere countries of South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.

The Ospreys represent the whole of the Neath and Swansea areas in western Glamorgan, including areas of the Upper Swansea Valley, also encompassing Port Talbot and Aberavon. They were initially created as a partnership between the area's two most successful clubs - Neath RFC and Swansea RFC - who still retain ownership of the club on a 50:50 basis.

In the summer of 2004, due to the liquidation of the Celtic Warriors region, Neath-Swansea Ospreys had their borders extended to cover much of the Bridgend and Ogmore areas to the east. However, for logistical reasons, it was decided that no "home" games would be played at Bridgend RFC's Brewery Field.

After initial teething problems, which were inevitable given the storied historical rivalry between the two clubs, the Ospreys have settled down and claim to be Wales' 'one true region' thanks to the demise of the Celtic Warriors. Presented with initially one of the weaker squads (especially in depth) they performed admirably in their first year, earning by right a place in the 2004/05 European Rugby Cup. In 2004/5 they won the Celtic League.

In April 2006 it was announced that noted former New Zealand All Blacks half back (scrum half) Justin Marshall had signed to play for Ospreys.

Home ground

In their first two seasons, the Ospreys shared their home games between Swansea's St Helens ground (home of Swansea RFC) and Neath's The Gnoll ground (home of Neath RFC).

From their third season, 2005-2006, the Ospreys home ground is the newly developed 20,200 seater Liberty Stadium in Landore. Their record attendance since moving to the Liberty Stadium is 18,412 achieved on Friday 26th August 2005 in a Freindly match against London Wasps.