Welsh Rugby

Part of 4. Topical Questions – in the Senedd at 3:26 pm on 6 March 2019.

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Photo of David Lloyd David Lloyd Plaid Cymru 3:26, 6 March 2019

Very much in the same frame, actually—I declare an interest as an Ospreys season ticket holder. Very much in the same frame as David Rees, the Ospreys is more than the 15 guys on the pitch. There's a whole umbrella of teams from under eight upwards, of both sexes, playing all the time, not just at half time during Ospreys home matches. It is really a huge community event, which totally reflects my region. I mean, it's called South Wales West in this place; it's actually 'Ospreylia'. It's the same boundary. So, we've been through one painful reorganisation, which you alluded to in your earlier answer, in 2002, when, as Swansea fans, we had to overcome our natural antipathy towards Neath fans, and later on Bridgend joined as well. So, we've been through a painful process, and it is overwhelmingly a community concern, like it is now. People are absolutely in a state of bewilderment and devastation that this has just happened. Ospreys is the most successful region—not just Welsh region, but most successful region in Pro12, Pro14 terms, with four championship victories. That's why people feel so terrible and devastated it's come out of the blue. Because we'll all be, in a couple of weeks' time, glowing in the reflected glory of another Grand Slam for the Welsh rugby union team, so why we need this now when the boys are on their way to Scotland for the next leg—it's something we can do without. It is most destabilising on Alun Wyn Jones—Osprey—Justin Tipuric—Osprey—Adam Beard—Osprey—George North—Osprey—who will be playing on Saturday—