Ospreys set sights on St Helen’s home



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Ospreys Rugby stadium update December 2024 Image: Ospreys Rugby

The United Rugby Championship team Ospreys plans to move to the iconic St Helen’s Rugby and Cricket Ground in Swansea, Wales (UK) have reached an important milestone following the nod of the Swansea Council’s ruling Cabinet – subject to conditions – to invest in St Helen’s to build a new stadium there.

‘OSPREYS’ stated that not only would the above be Ospreys’ new home but it would also provide facilities for community use.

The Ospreys boss is confident that they would be “taking to the field” at the new home in St Helen’s by Winter 2025.

The Ospreys, formerly the Neath-Swansea Ospreys, is one of the four professional rugby union teams from Wales (UK). They compete in the United Rugby Championship and in the European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR) competitions.

Dublin (Ireland)-based the United Rugby Championship is an annual rugby union competition involving professional teams from Ireland, Italy, Scotland (UK), South Africa, and Wales (UK).

Lausanne (Switzerland)-based the European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR) is the governing body and organizer of the two major club rugby union tournaments: The European Rugby Champions Cup (an annual rugby union tournament and is the top-tier competition for clubs who compete in a predominantly European league) and the EPCR Challenge Cup (the second-tier competition for clubs based in European leagues behind the European Rugby Champions Cup).

The 21,088-capacity Swansea.com Stadium is an all-seated multiuse sports stadium and conferencing venue located in the Landore area of Swansea, Wales (UK) and it hosts both rugby union and football matches. The stadium opened in 2005 and serves as the residence of the Ospreys. The Ospreys rugby club will play at the Swansea.com Stadium for the 2024-2025 seasons which will end on June 14th, 2025.

The 4,500-capacity St Helen’s Rugby and Cricket Ground, commonly known simply as the St Helen’s Ground, is a sports venue in Swansea, Wales (UK) owned and operated by the City and County of Swansea Council. It serves as the home arena of the Swansea Rugby Football Club and the Swansea Cricket Club since it opened in 1873.

The City and County of Swansea Council, or simply the Swansea Council, is the local authority for the City and County of Swansea, one of the principal areas of Wales (UK). The principal area also includes rural areas to the North of the built-up area of Swansea and the Gower Peninsula to the West. The Council consists of 75 Councilors representing 32 electoral Wards.

The Ospreys rugby union club plans to begin construction on the first phase of their new stadium at the St Helen’s Ground in Spring 2025. The Ospreys hope to play their first games at the new stadium by Winter 2025.

‘OSPREYS’ further stated that the Ospreys are now finalizing the proposed layout of the site before submitting the designs for planning approval.

The Phase One of the proposed development would see the installation of a new and relocated 4G pitch (a type of artificial turf field with a simplified design), refurbishment of the clubhouse and terrace and the installation of new stands. There would also be a fans’ zone which would offer entertainment activities before and after the matches.

Phase Two would see the installation of a state-of-the-art training facility including a gym and office space plus a training barn. As part of Ospreys’ ambition to make St Helen’s the hub of the community the barn will also be available for community use. This will not only help nurture the local talent but will also give back to the local community.

Exulted Lance Bradley, Ospreys’ head honcho, “We have been working very closely with the Council on this project and it’s great that it’s taken an important step closer to coming to fruition. I’m confident that we can meet the conditions the Council have stipulated. We remain on course to commence construction of Phase One in Spring 2025 with the aim of taking the field by that Winter. While that means we’ll be playing our first block of games of the 2025-2026 seasons elsewhere, we know it’ll be worth the wait for our supporters. We’re looking forward to welcoming everyone home.”

Added Bradley, “This redevelopment will also be great news for both the Swansea RFC and the Swansea University as they will both be continuing to play games at St Helen’s.”

Remarked Rob Stewart, Leader of the Swansea Council, “We have significant ambitions for building a Sports Science Park in Swansea and the Ospreys’ commitment to a long-term future in the City aligns with this. We’re working hard with them and the others to make these visions come to fruition. There remains work to do but our discussions with all the stakeholders continues to be positive and I would like to thank everyone involved for their ongoing work with us. The Council is committed to working with the Ospreys to achieve their ambition of playing at St Helen’s from the 2025-2026 seasons.”

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