WRU's Abi Tierney asked not to attend key meeting over Ospreys' future

Abi Tierney was asked not to attend a Swansea Council meeting at which the future of the Ospreys was being discussed, the WRU have stated.

On February 4, politicians and members of the public attended the Brangwyn Hall in Swansea, hosted by Swansea Council leader and Swansea West MP Torsten Bell.

Earlier that same day, the local authority had released minutes compiled from a recent meeting with WRU CEO Tierney and Ospreys chief executive Lance Bradley which they claimed showed the Ospreys would no longer be a professional team beyond the 2026-27 season if the club’s owners Y11 Sport and Media were successful in taking over rivals Cardiff Rugby.

The minutes also suggested the Ospreys could potentially merge with Swansea RFC and compete in the semi-professional Super Rygbi Cymru.

Early stage legal action is now under way in the form of a pre-action letter issued to the WRU by the local authority.

Passions ran high at the meeting, which saw supporters and local politicians raise their concerns and it has now emerged that Tierney and other WRU board members were asked not to attend the gathering, despite being willing to do so.

Mr Bell sent Tierney a note on behalf of District E asking her not to come.

In an update issued to all clubs on Friday, community game board chair John Manders said: “The Swansea Council meeting at Brangwyn Hall in Swansea on 4 February hosted by the local MP and leader of the Council.

"We had arranged for Abi Tierney, Alison Thorne and me to come along to the meeting as we thought it was important to hear directly from everyone with concerns and to be there to answer questions.

"On the day of the meeting, however, we received a note from Torsten Bell, MP to say that District E would prefer us not to attend and asking us to consider their wishes.

"Reluctantly, we agreed to respect the wishes of District E and did not attend on this occasion. Please be assured, though, that we were all keen and willing to attend the public meeting and talk with everyone there."

In the same update, Manders said they were willing to meet with the Ospreys Supporters' Club and that Tierney had already made contact with them.

"Meeting with the Ospreys Supporters Club (OSC)," he added. "There has been speculation that the WRU has refused to meet with the OSC.

"Abi Tierney has been in touch with the OSC to acknowledge the concerns they have raised. She has explained that there are some commercially sensitive processes which limit what we can discuss at the moment, but that we recognise the strength of feeling among supporters.

"Abi has agreed to meet with the Supporters Club and is keen to hear their perspectives directly and ensure they are listened to, while being mindful of the constraints that apply during an ongoing commercial process."