Ospreys chief executive Lance Bradley has confirmed that the region has not yet signed Welsh rugby's latest Professional Rugby Agreement (PRA), despite announcing their intention to do so four weeks ago. The Scarlets are also yet to commit to the deal, which sets out governance and funding for the professional game in Wales.
Ospreys and Scarlets remain under the previous agreement, which runs until 2028, while the WRU-owned Dragons and Cardiff signed the new PRA25 deal in May 2025, extending through 2030.
Bradley told BBC Radio Wales Breakfast that the signing is imminent. "It's not signed yet, but it's progressing towards that, so it's very close. It's just a few details to sort out, there aren't any problems with it."
He dismissed reports of budget cuts under the new deal, saying, "There was some discussion about how you manage recruitment at relatively short notice, but no, there's no plans for a reduction in the budget."
The negotiations take place against a backdrop of WRU plans to reduce the number of professional men's teams from four to three by the 2028-29 season. Bradley remains hopeful that both the Ospreys and Scarlets will continue long-term.
"I think we need to see the details of it. My personal preference would be that four regions is something that works very well. Ospreys against Scarlets is the biggest club game in Welsh rugby... I'd like to see it continue if possible," he said.
St Helen's Ready for New Season
Ospreys announced that work on the £5m redevelopment of St Helen's stadium in Swansea will begin next week. The ground will be the region's new home after a season at Bridgend's Brewery Field.
Key features include a new south stand and a redeveloped west stand and terrace. Despite delays in funding from Swansea Council due to uncertainty over WRU plans, Bradley insists the stadium will be ready for the start of the 2026-27 campaign.
Ospreys start the season with three away United Rugby Championship (URC) matches, with the first home game against Dragons on Saturday, 24 October.
"We've been working with the council to get a facility that's not only fantastic for the Ospreys, but for the community as well. The timescales are tight... we will have a stadium that we can be proud of in time for the start of next season," Bradley said.
He acknowledged that redevelopment will continue during the season but will be complete for the first game.
Swansea City Council leader Rob Stewart denied any strained relationship with the rugby club, stating, "We've been good partners all through this process... This unfair process that the WRU commenced we still believe is now dead in the water."