Swansea council launches legal action against WRU over proposed Cardiff sale

Swansea council has begun formal legal proceedings against the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) in a bid to stop the proposed sale of Cardiff Rugby to Y11 Sport & Media.

The council has claimed a deal the WRU struck with Y11, which already owns the Ospreys, breaches UK competition law and undermines the governing body's own restructuring process for the professional men's game.

"We believe the WRU has acted unlawfully, and we will continue fighting on behalf of the Ospreys and rugby supporters across Wales," said council leader Rob Stewart.

The WRU confirmed it had received a "pre-action letter" from the council and said it had "worked in good faith to create a new way forward for Welsh rugby".

"We appreciate that these are difficult issues for everyone concerned, but we have conducted ourselves with future long term success in mind," the union added.

The WRU announced plans in October to cut one of Wales' four professional teams by 2027, arguing that the pool of talent and finances within Welsh rugby means only three professional teams are able to be either sustainable or competitive.

The governing body said three licences would be granted - one to a team in Cardiff, one in the west and one in the east.

In December, it said discussions needed to continue and if an agreement could not be reached, a six-month tender process could open to determine the successful trio.

Last month, the WRU announced Y11 Sport and Media, the current owners of Ospreys, had been chosen as the preferred option to buy Cardiff Rugby.

It prompted the council to call on the UK's Competitions and Market Authority (CMA) to investigate the proposed takeover of Cardiff, saying it risks unfairly restricting competition, reducing choice for supporters and damaging Swansea's economy.

The council now says it has opened legal action against the union, arguing the proposal breaches UK competition law.

"If this deal proceeds then the Ospreys will cease to exist as a professional regional team at the end of the 2026/27 season, based on what we've been told," Stewart said.

Last week, the council said it had applied for a High Court injunction to halt the proposed deal with Y11, adding that it had been told by the union that a deal would not be completed before 16 March.

The WRU said it understood "that these are difficult and sometimes emotive issues for everyone involved".

"Our focus remains firmly on the long term health of the whole game in Wales and on continuing to work constructively with all our stakeholders, including Swansea council," it said, adding it was aware the council had raised concerns with the CMA and would be "addressing such concerns... proactively and appropriately".