Warriors offered helping hand

Neath-Swansea Ospreys tonight promised to “move heaven and earth” in assisting the Celtic Warriors if they are disbanded by Welsh rugby chiefs.

The Bridgend-based Warriors, whose playing squad includes several current Welsh internationals, face a bleak future.

They are now wholly in the Welsh Rugby Union’s ownership after the WRU agreed to buy Bridgend Rugby Football Club’s 50% share.

And that has paved the way for a reduction in Wales’ regional professional teams from five to four, leaving just Newport Gwent Dragons, Cardiff Blues, Llanelli Scarlets and the Ospreys.

The Warriors’ millionaire benefactor Leighton Samuel, whose stake the WRU have just acquired, is expected to hold a press conference tomorrow.

In the meantime, Warriors’ playing, coaching and backroom staff are anxiously awaiting developments.

The WRU has consistently maintained that Welsh rugby can only support four sustainable regions.

WRU chief executive David Moffett is currently conducting a review of the Warriors, and will report back by Thursday week at the latest.

The Ospreys though, have offered Warriors players a glimmer of hope, while it is understood that at least one Zurich Premiership club has started making overtures to existing squad personnel.

“Everyone at the Ospreys is extremely saddened by what has happened at the Warriors today, and our thoughts are with those players, staff and families affected,” said Ospreys chief executive Andrew Donald.

“We will do everything within our power to help wherever we can.

“In the unhappy event that the Union decides to bring the regional side to an end and re-draw the map of regional rugby in Wales, the Ospreys will try to help by absorbing as many of the Warriors players into the current Ospreys squad that we can, absorbing players’ contracts wherever and whenever possible and even offering roles to backroom staff.

“In addition, we would be ready, at any time, to meet with supporters’ groups of the Celtic Warriors, to see where and how we can help further.

“And, if there is the will from supporters, we will move heaven and earth to bring in as much of the Warriors’ region within the Ospreys set-up as we possibly can, but only if fans want us to do so.

“We remain open to help, wherever and whenever possible, and wish the Warriors and their supporters every assistance throughout this terribly difficult time.”

Warriors coach Lynn Howells has hit out at the WRU, who he predicts will wind up the regional outfit after just one season.

“Those are the vibes we are getting – it’s a sad day,” said Howells, as the Warriors management accused the WRU of back-tracking on a pledge to ensure the team’s future.

“We were absolutely guaranteed the Warriors would continue – just not with us in charge,” said chairman John Samuel.

“We were to play in the Celtic League and Heineken Cup next season, but I think there’s been a change of plan.”

And Howells told BBC Wales: “This smacks of being a financial rather than a rugby decision. We’ve been told that the Union is looking at finances and all the other issues surrounding the region, such as television contracts and the teams that will play in European competition.

“It hurts because we’ve fought to get into the Heineken Cup, the players have become a squad and forged an identity, and the fans were starting to buy into it.

“The WRU always wanted a ’big four,’ but the side they’ve picked on was the one with the structures in place to really take things forward.

“It’s the Valleys again, they always seem to be the ones to take the brunt of it, but it will leave a big hole in Welsh rugby.

“It’s not just the Warriors, but the whole development side and academy structure that will be lost. When our suspicions are confirmed, I am out of a job and so are all the players.”

John Samuel continued: “We are very unhappy with the Union. There was a meeting with the players this week, and they couldn’t be told if they would be paid next month, nor whether the Warriors would exist next year.

“It’s been increasingly difficult to work with the Union over the last couple of weeks, as they have not allowed us to make any business decisions without their approval.

“We’ve worked flat out through a very difficult season to achieve success, but it feels like we’ve built a house and someone else has moved in.”

The WRU hierarchy, who favoured a four-region set-up, were out-voted when the decision was made to switch from a club to a five-team district-based set-up.

Last December, a public outcry enabled Warriors to fight off a merger with Cardiff Blues but this time it really does look as if the writing is on the wall.

Wales full-back Gareth Thomas has already been sold to French champions Toulouse, but the rest of the squad, including internationals Gareth Cooper and Robert Sidoli, could be distributed among the four remaining regions if the Warriors are wound up.