Ospreys players will keep fighting to survive - Lake

Wales captain Dewi Lake says Ospreys will "keep fighting" after a distressing week that has seen the region's long-term future brought into question.

Hooker Lake led Ospreys to a 24-24 draw with Lions in the United Rugby Championship in Bridgend.

The match came a day after the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) finally named Ospreys owners Y11 Sport and Media as its preferred bidder to take over Welsh rivals Cardiff.

If the deal goes through, Ospreys and Cardiff will continue as separate sides but be owned by one organisation.

Ospreys have only been guaranteed playing in the URC and Europe until the end of the 2026-27 season, with doubts whether they will remain as a professional team beyond that date as the WRU push ahead with plans to cut one of the Welsh regions.

Lake, who will leave Ospreys for Gloucester at the end of the season because of the uncertainty in the Welsh game, says his current side will keep battling.

"We're going to go out fighting, we're going to prove what we do on the pitch," said Lake.

"If anything, it's going to fuel the fire for us. It has brought this group even tighter. Going through something like this only pulls you together."

After the news emerged of the deal before the official announcement, Ospreys players had a stormy meeting with chief executive Lance Bradley where "one or two of the players" walked out early and a full contact training session was cancelled.

Current Ospreys players - including Wales captains Jac Morgan, Lake and internationals Sam Parry, Dan Edwards and Gareth Thomas - shared a statement, saying they have been "kept in the dark" over the region's fate.

"We're disappointed as players and staff at the way it's been handled," said Lake.

"But the nature of sports sometimes means you can't always have it your own way."

Ospreys were able to focus on the game against Lions and come away with three league points in the high-scoring draw played in atrocious conditions.

"To turn up and to put that performance on is remarkable," said Lake.

"I don't think many people would have expected something like that to come after a week, where we haven't trained as much as we usually would and had a couple of difficult meetings during a couple of difficult days."

Ospreys supporters protested against their owners and the WRU by turning the lights on their phones in the 11th minute at the Brewery Field.

"It's a massive thank you to the fans, people who've turned up and supported us throughout the whole week," said Lake.

"They've stuck with us and it doesn't go unnoticed."

Former Ospreys and Wales fly-half James Hook says he was "frustrated and angry" at talk of his old side being under threat.

"We owe it to the players and next generation to fight tooth and nail for Ospreys to stay exactly where it belongs," Hook told BBC Radio Wales Sport.

"This is the heartbeat of South Wales rugby, as far as Ospreys are concerned. They incorporate the second biggest city in Wales [Swansea] and then you have the surrounding areas as well like Neath, Aberavon and Bridgend.

"Look at the Ospreys' history with four league titles and the countless amount of Wales internationals and also the British and Irish Lions players they have produced.

"Ospreys is not a team you can throw in the bin. Even suggesting they should be dismantling them is short-sighted."

Former Wales hooker Ken Owens says the lack of communication was disappointing.

"It has been poor, especially for the players, staff and supporters," Owens told S4C.

"There are still more questions than answers from what has come out this week.

"What's disappointing is we haven't heard a lot from Y11, and they've let Mark Jones [Ospreys head coach] in front of the cameras this week when they should only be talking about the game."

Owens believes fans anger should be aimed at WRU and Y11.

"The WRU created this situation with the way they want to move the game in Wales.," said Owens

"We understand there's a need for change and difficult decisions have to be made.

"But for the supporters to see their owners trying to buy another club, with no real answers about what's happening long-term for the Ospreys, is very disappointing.

"Especially as they haven't come out and spoken at all. I think Lance Bradley has made one statement, that's all we've heard."