Cardiff takeover deal with Ospreys owners collapses

Cardiff takeover deal with Ospreys owners collapsesImage source, Huw Evans Picture AgencyImage caption, Cardiff play home games at the Arms Park and will face Ospreys in a Welsh derby on FridayByGareth GriffithsBBC Sport WalesPublished10 minutes agoCommentsThe Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) says negotiations with the owners of Ospreys to also buy Cardiff have fallen through.The WRU confirmed in January 2026 it had entered a period of exclusivity on the sale of Cardiff with Y11 Sport & Media, which owns Ospreys.That period expired in March but was extended by 30 days until Wednesday, 22 April.The WRU and Y11 have "jointly agreed the Ospreys owners will withdraw from the bid process" for the proposed purchase of Cardiff after “constructive discussions” and Cardiff will remain under WRU ownership.No details have been given as to why negotiations broke down, with WRU chief executive Abi Tierney only confirming Cardiff would remain under the governing body's ownership for now.“Y11 presented the best bid for Cardiff but the WRU has concluded it is in the best interests of Welsh rugby for Cardiff to remain under our ownership for now,” said Tierney."We are all very grateful to Y11 for the professionalism and commitment to Welsh rugby they have displayed throughout this process."Ospreys and Scarlets are thought to be the two men's sides most under threat from the WRU's plans to cut one of the four professional Welsh regional sides.But the governing body says both teams can sign Welsh rugby’s latest Professional Rugby Agreement (PRA) - with Cardiff and Dragons having already signed - that runs through until 2030.This comes almost a year after the WRU took the offer off the table.The governing body says its long-term aim is still to implement the controversial policy of cutting a professional side.The WRU wants to achieve this by the end of the 2027-28 season and will outline the terms of how this will be achieved by June 2026.Despite some appa...