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The Ospreys (Welsh: Y Gweilch), formerly the Neath-Swansea Ospreys (Gweilch Tawe-Nedd), are a rugby union team from Wales, playing in the Celtic League, EDF Energy Cup and the Heineken Cup/European Challenge Cup. At the start of the 2005-2006 season, they dropped Neath and Swansea from their name to become simply the Ospreys, although the company is still Neath-Swansea Ospreys.
Strip
The Ospreys strip is made up mainly black, grey and white and is currently manufactured by Kooga. The strip's primary sponsor is npower renewables, with secondary sponsorship including ASDA, eteach, Pinetree, Worthington's, John West Foods Ltd, Trade Centre Wales and Cardiff Doors. The Ospreys jersey is currently the second most popular by sales figures throughout the United Kingdom and Ireland, behind Munster.
History
The Ospreys are one of the five original clubs of the Welsh Regional Rugby Era. The club came into being in the summer of 2003 when the WRU controversially elected to reduce the current top tier of Welsh professional rugby from nine clubs into five regions, attempting to mirror the successful formats in Ireland and the Southern Hemisphere countries of South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.
The Ospreys represent the whole of the Neath and Swansea areas in western Glamorgan, including areas of the Upper Swansea Valley, also encompassing Port Talbot and Aberavon. They were initially created as a partnership between the area's two most successful clubs - Neath RFC and Swansea RFC - who still retain ownership of the club on a 50:50 basis.
In the summer of 2004, due to the liquidation of the Celtic Warriors region, Neath-Swansea Ospreys had their borders extended to cover much of the Bridgend and Ogmore areas to the east. However, for logistical reasons, it was decided that no "home" games would be played at Bridgend RFC's Brewery Field.
After initial teething problems, which were inevitable given the storied historical rivalry between the two clubs, the Ospreys have settled down and claim to be Wales' 'one true region' thanks to the demise of the Celtic Warriors. Presented with initially one of the weaker squads (especially in depth) they performed admirably in their first year, earning by right a place in the 2004/05 European Rugby Cup. In 2004/5 they won the Celtic League.
In April 2006, it was announced that noted former New Zealand All Blacks scrum half Justin Marshall had signed to play for Ospreys. When it became apparent that Australia would not be able to face Wales 'A' midweek during their November tour, the Ospreys became the first Welsh region to play a major international side since regional rugby was introduced, a match they won 24-16.
The term Ospreylia has been adopted by the region and its supporters as a description of the geographical area covered by the region, with supporters known as Ospreylians. Peter Black, Assembly Member for south west Wales has declared himself as AM for Ospreylia on his own blog (27 October 2006)
On April 21, 2009, the Ospreys had six players included in the British and Irish Lions' squad for the 2009 South African tour: Lee Byrne (Fullback), Tommy Bowe and Shane Williams (Wings), Mike Phillips (Scrum Half), Alun-Wyn Jones (Lock), and Adam Jones (Prop). One notable omission however, was Wales and Ospreys captain Ryan Jones.
Scott Johnson, the former Head Coach of the Welsh national team, and Attack Coach when Wales won the Six Nations Championship Grand Slam in 2005 for the first time in 27 years, was announced as Director of Coaching at the Ospreys on 29 January, 2009. Widely recognised as an excellent technical coach who has inspired fierce loyalty and admiration from players whom he has coached and is notable for producing teams who play inventive, original, entertaining and attacking rugby, Johnson is in overall charge of the Ospreys coaching and playing matters.
On 09 May, 2009 the Ospreys announced the signing of the noted former New Zealand All Blacks captain Jerry Collins. Collins had been a stalwart at blind-side flanker for the All Blacks, since 2004 but retired from international rugby in 2008. He can also play in the No. 8 and openside flanker positions. He is regarded as one of the most fearsome players in his position in world rugby. He is revered for his tenacity, fierce physicality and ability to play through pain. He is also widely regarded as one of the most intimidating players in the rugby world with his size and brutal tackling.
Ospreys A
On the 23rd February 2007, the Ospreys played their first 'A' team match, against Newport-Gwent Dragons 'A' at Bridgend, which was the first 'A' match fixture for any of the Welsh regional sides. They lost the match 22-10.
They since went on to play Worcester 'A' in April, a game which they lost 24-23 to an injury-time penalty.
Home ground
In their first two seasons, the Ospreys shared their home games between Swansea's St Helens ground (home of Swansea RFC) and Neath's The Gnoll ground (home of Neath RFC). For their third season, 2005-2006, they moved to the newly-developed Liberty Stadium in Landore which seats over 20,000, double the St Helens capacity. They have sold this stadium out against an international side (Australia, 1 November 2006) and against local rivals the Llanelli Scarlets.
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