Ospreys fans stage protest as Wales stars address supporters amid 'shame on you' chants

Ospreys supporters took to the streets of Bridgend to protest the Welsh Rugby Union's plans which has put the club's future in serious danger.

Ahead of their United Rugby Championship clash with the Dragons at the Brewery Field on Saturday night, Ospreys fans made their voices heard as they hit out not only at the governing body, but the club's owners, Y11, after they were chosen as the WRU's preferred bidder to take over rivals Cardiff.

No guarantees have been given to the Ospreys to remain as a professional side beyond June 2027, with the WRU planning to reduce the number of teams from four to three.

In the two weeks since the news broke that Y11 would enter a period of exclusivity to buy Cardiff, Ospreys fans have made their feelings known about the WRU's plans.

Last week saw fans hold up their phone torches during the 11th minute of their URC match against the Lions - an action repeated by fans of Cardiff the following night.

Since then, councillors have called out the actions of the WRU and Y11, as have a number of former Ospreys players.

But Saturday night saw the Ospreys fans take their protests to a new level - with around 200 gathering outside the Brewery Field on Saturday night.

The Ospreys' Supporters Club organised the event, with fans meeting before kick-off.

Fans held up one sign saying 'WRU + Y11 = TRAITORS', while others were also directed at the governing body and the club's owners.

Fans also chanted "Shame on you, WRU" at the protest.

Former Wales and Ospreys players Shane Williams and Ian Gough addressed fans at the event, with both having vocal in the past week about the threat to the Ospreys.

Both signed a statement speaking out against the plan to get rid of the Ospreys earlier this week.

"We will do whatever it takes to hopefully mean the Ospreys will continue to exist," Williams told BBC Scrum V earlier in the week.

"We are going to do whatever we can to make sure we get heard and hopefully make a change."

He added: "The last few weeks have been quite upsetting for someone who has been affiliated with the Ospreys from the start, so I can't imagine what the current guys are going through.

"It's difficult and feels very personal for me. I have the boys who I teach coming up to me asking is there a chance the Ospreys will be gone because they can't believe it.

"I am trying to explain and give the positives of it, but there aren't any positives."