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,Heineken Cup/European Challenge Cup and the Magners League. 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' shirt for the 2009/2010 season has gone with a new look once more by experimenting with colour. The main home kit is mainly black and gold. The kit is currently manufactured by Kooga who have produced all Ospreys kit since their innovation in 2003. The shirt's primary sponsor is npower renewables, with secondary sponsorship including Worthington's, Trade Depot, Persimmon, Taylors Regional Food, The Trade Center Wales, Solo Service Group, John West Food Ltd and Cuddy Group. The Ospreys' jersey is currently the second most popular by sales figures throughout the United Kingdom and Ireland, behind Munster.[2]
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, because of 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. In November 2006 when it became apparent that Wales 'A' would not be able to face Australia 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.[3]
The Ospreys won the Celtic League during the 2006/2007 season, topping the league by a single point and taking the title with an away win at Borders. Winning the Celtic League for a second time meant the Ospreys were the first team to have won the Celtic League twice. In February 2008, the Ospreys provided 13 of the starting line-up for Wales in their Six Nations match against England, setting a new record for the number of players from one region playing for their national side. During the 2007/2008 season the Ospreys reached Quarter-final of the Heineken Cup for the first time but unexpectedly lost to Saracens. The following week they won the EDF Energy Cup beating Leicester Tigers at Twickenham. On 16 May 2008, head coach Lyn Jones, who to that point had been Ospreys' only coach, resigned.[4]
The term Ospreylia[1][2][3] 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.[5]
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 9 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 23 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 St Helen's (home ground of Swansea RFC) and The Gnoll (home ground of Neath RFC). Since their third season in 2005-2006, they have played at the purpose-built 20,000 seat Liberty Stadium in Landore, Swansea, which is shared with Swansea City FC. The Liberty Stadium, with double the capacity of St Helen's, has seen a capacity crowd for the matches against international tourists Australia (1 November 2006[6]) and against local rivals Llanelli Scarlets.[7]
Management
| Officer |
Position |
| Scott Johnson |
Director of Coaching |
| Andrew Hore |
Elite Performance Director |
| Sean Holley |
Head Coach |
| Jonathan Humphreys |
Forwards Coach |
| Alex Lawson |
Fitness Coach |
| Damian Karauna |
Video Analyst |
| Chris Towers |
Physiotherapist |
| Daloni Lucas |
Physiotherapist |
Current squad
British and Irish Lions
The following players were selected for the British and Irish Lions touring squads whilst playing for the Ospreys.
Notable former players
Results and statistics
Celtic League
| Season |
Pos |
Played |
Won |
Drawn |
Lost |
Bonus |
Points |
| 2008-09 |
4th |
18 |
11 |
0 |
7 |
8 |
52 |
| 2007-08 |
7th |
18 |
6 |
1 |
11 |
11 |
37 |
| 2006-07 |
1st |
20 |
14 |
0 |
6 |
8 |
64 |
| 2005-06 |
7th |
22* |
11 |
0 |
9 |
3 |
55 |
| 2004-05 |
1st |
20 |
16 |
1 |
3 |
10 |
76 |
| 2003-04 |
5th |
22 |
11 |
1 |
10 |
9 |
55 |
* Includes 2 "Free Weekends" which equated to 4 points each.
Celtic League Cup
| Season |
Round |
Match |
| 2003/2004 |
1st |
Leinster Lions 35 - 21 Neath-Swansea Ospreys |
Heineken Cup
Anglo-Welsh Cup
Club honours
- Celtic League - 2004/05, 2006/07
- EDF Energy Cup - 2007/2008
Notable former coaches
See also
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Mike Cuddy
Scott Johnson
