WRU confirm Scarlets or Ospreys will be cut by 2028

The Welsh Rugby Union has confirmed plans to reduce Wales' professional men's regions from four to three from the 2028/29 season; One of Ospreys or Scarlets will lose its licence, with Cardiff and Dragons retained

>The Welsh Rugby Union has confirmed it will cut one of its four men's professional teams from the 2028/29 season.

>The WRU says one of its teams will be based in the capital Cardiff, one in the west and one in the east.

>It means one of the two regions in the west, Llanelli-based Scarlets or Swansea-based Ospreys, will be defunct, while Cardiff and the Dragons offered the respective capital and east licences.

>The WRU Board says the licensing framework and the licence award process will begin in December 2026 and conclude by the end of the 2026/27 season at the latest.

>Professional Rugby Board chair Marianne Okland said: "There is now a duty on all of us involved in the professional game in Wales to work together to determine a shared future operating model. How we progress over the forthcoming months will be critical."