Ospreys (rugby union)

Ospreys
UnionWelsh Rugby Union
Founded2003; 21 years ago (2003)
LocationSwansea, Wales
Ground(s)Swansea.com Stadium (Capacity: 20,827)
CEOLance Bradley
Coach(es)Toby Booth
Captain(s)Justin Tipuric
Most appearancesAlun Wyn Jones (268)
Top scorerDan Biggar (2,203)
Most triesShane Williams (57)
League(s)United Rugby Championship
2023–24Quarter-finals
8th overall
(Welsh Shield: 1st)
1st kit
2nd kit
Official website
www.ospreysrugby.com

The Ospreys (Welsh: Y Gweilch), formerly the Neath–Swansea Ospreys[1][2] is one of the four professional rugby union teams from Wales. They compete in the United Rugby Championship and the European Rugby Champions Cup. The team formed as a result of Neath RFC and Swansea RFC combining to create a new merged entity, as part of the new regional structure of Welsh rugby, that began in 2003. They are also affiliated with a number of local semi-professional and amateur clubs, including Welsh Premier Division sides Aberavon RFC, Bridgend Ravens, and original founding clubs Neath and Swansea. The regional area represented by the team has widely become known for rugby purposes as 'Ospreylia'.[3]

Their main home ground is the Swansea.com Stadium, Swansea, although some smaller profile games have been played at the Brewery Field, Bridgend. Ospreys currently play in a black home strip, while the away strip is white and orange. The Ospreys logo consists of an image of an Osprey mask.

The Ospreys are the most successful Welsh team in the history of the Celtic League or Pro12 tournament, having won the competition four times. They also became the first and only Welsh regional team to beat a major touring side, defeating Australia 24–16 in 2006.[4]

  1. ^ Rugby News www.walesonline.co.uk, accessed 22 October 2020
  2. ^ Ospreys in name change: IN A bold move the Neath-Swansea Ospreys will be known as just The Ospreys from next season 14 May 2005 www.walesonline.co.uk, accessed 22 October 2020
  3. ^ Updated 9:58am 2 November 2012 (28 October 2006). "Rugby puts Ospreylia on the map - Rugby Columnists - Rugby". WalesOnline. Retrieved 2 November 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ "Ospreys 24-16 Australia". BBC News. 1 November 2006. Retrieved 2 November 2012.