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Wales Online
05-08-2025
- Sport
- Wales Online
Unanimous backing for Ospreys redevelopment of St Helen's sports ground given by councillors
Unanimous backing for Ospreys redevelopment of St Helen's sports ground given by councillors It's a key moment for the regional rugby side and chief executive Lance Bradley pledges to respect the ground's history St Helen's Rugby and Cricket Ground, viewed from the Mumbles Road end (Image: Wales Online ) Plans by regional rugby club the Ospreys to redevelop Swansea's historic St Helen's sports ground have been unanimously approved. Ospreys chief executive Lance Bradley addressed the council's planning committee to say the redevelopment was really important for the club's future and also for that of Swansea RFC and Swansea University, which will continue to play matches there. Mr Bradley said the aim was for schools and age-grade representative rugby to also benefit as part of a rugby 'hub' at the seaside venue. 'It's an incredibly iconic ground,' he said. 'We will completely respect the history of the place.' Mr Bradley referred to 'uncertain times' in Welsh rugby and said the opportunity to redevelop St Helen's would be a a significant factor in ensuring the future of professional rugby in Swansea. The plan is to refurbish and cover the existing north stand, which will remain standing-only, re-orientate the pitch in a north-easterly direction towards the clubhouse and replace the current turf with a 3G surface, build a new southern stand and add two stands at either end of the pitch. The club's preferred option for the southern stand is a two-storey rather than a single-storey structure incorporating changing rooms, a medical room, toilets and corporate hospitality. A report before the committee said the club couldn't unequivocally confirm the two-storey option at this stage. It added that the capacity of the ground would be between 8,044 and 8,396. Never miss a Swansea story by signing up to our newsletter here Ospreys chief executive Lance Bradley outside the Guildhall, Swansea, after approval was given for the redevelopment of St Helen's sports ground (Image: Richard Youle ) Uplands ward councillor Peter May addressed the committee to say he'd lived close to St Helen's Rugby and Cricket Ground, which opened in 1873, for 29 years and that he backed the project. He said the Ospreys had had 'a dialogue not monologue' with local councillors and residents and that in his view the scale of the proposed venue was 'about right' for the area. Cllr May said he would, though, want buses available to take spectators away from the ground if there were evening midweek or late weekend matches. He acknowledged that Swansea Cricket Club would have to vacate the ground it has occupied for 150 years but this was partly due, in his view, to Glamorgan Cricket Club's decision not to play fixtures there since 2019 because of concerns about the facilities. 'I really look forward to the evolution and the next chapter in our dear St Helen's ground,' said Cllr May. The Ospreys will also create a fans' zone with a retractable roof at the Gorse Lane end of the ground, a staff car park with around 100 spaces to be accessed via Gorse Lane, a new southern entrance for spectators, and bicycle stands for 80 bikes. Replacement floodlights will also be installed. The southern stand at St Helen's, which will be replaced (Image: Richard Youle ) The Ospreys also intend to build a training barn at the Gorse Lane-Mumbles Road corner of the ground, and the permission given by the committee included outline consent for this second phase of the scheme. Although the rugby club was the applicant, the committee report said the initiative was a joint venture with the council and Swansea University and formed part of a wider city deal project to create a sports and medical technology cluster in the vicinity. The council, which owns the ground, is to invest in the redevelopment as part of a long-term agreement with the Ospreys. Council budget papers have shown £5.1 million allocated to the project, with just over £1 million on top to create a suitable venue for the cricket club off Sketty Lane, Sketty. The cricket club will move out at the end of August, and the Ospreys aim to play their first home match at St Helen's in December. It would be their first match there since 2005 when they moved to what was then the new Liberty Stadium, Landore, where Swansea City Football Club also play. Members of the committee backed the plans while seeking assurances about travel and road measures on match days. Cllr Phil Downing said the project was important for the county, not just the city. 'Being a total football fan, this is still very exciting for me,' he said. A planning officer said a travel plan submitted by the Ospreys, which includes buses on match days offering a park and ride service, was an evolving document rather than something fixed from day one. Referring to the 8,000-odd capacity, the officer said: 'I can remember going to games here which far exceeded that number.' The future of the current structure of four professional regional rugby sides in Wales continues to be the subject of discussion, with the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) saying a consultation about a restructure would take place this month and next. One potential development, it said, was whether there should be a reduction to three or two regional teams. The planning committee heard there were four letters of objection plus two late ones – one of which was from the Scarlets Supports Trust. A mural at St Helen's commemorating Swansea RFC vistories against New Zealand, South Africa and Australia (Image: Richard Youle ) Mr Bradley has recently said he was confident of a positive outcome regarding the WRU discussions. In a statement issued by the club after the approval decision, he said: 'This is an incredibly exciting moment and a vital step in building the future of the Ospreys and rugby across our region.' Cllr Rob Stewart, the leader of Swansea Council, said: 'It's vitally important for sport and the local economy that the Ospreys continue to be based in Swansea and we're working together to make that happen. 'We've agreed a lease for them to make St Helen's their new home and to widen its community use. By having a lease agreed and planning permission in place the Ospreys can start moving ahead with their plans to remain in Swansea and transform the historic St Helen's ground into a modern sports facility.' He added: "We know the uncertainty over the future of the regions has raised concerns about the timing of the planned redevelopment of St Helen's. That's why we're working closely with the Ospreys and have an agreement with them to ensure the works at St Helen's progress in line with any WRU decisions on the future structure of the regions." Article continues below
Wales Online
28-06-2025
- Sport
- Wales Online
Tonight's rugby news as ex-Wales coach lands top Welsh club job and WRU pause women's game revamp
Tonight's rugby news as ex-Wales coach lands top Welsh club job and WRU pause women's game revamp The latest rugby news from Wales and beyond Former Wales forward Jonathan Thomas has been appointed head coach of Swansea RFC (Image: Swansea RFC ) Your rugby evening headlines on Saturday, June 28. Former Wales star appointed head coach of SRC club Former Wales forwards Jonathan Thomas has been appointed head coach of Super Rygbi Cymru outfit Swansea RFC. Thomas won 67 caps for Wales and played an integral role in two Six Nations Grand Slam-winning campaigns in 2005 and 2008. The 42-year-old began his playing career at Swansea before joining the Ospreys when the game went regional in 2003. After making 188 appearances for the Ospreys, which included 14 tries, he joined Worcester Warriors in 2013 before retiring in 2015 after getting diagnosed with epilepsy. Thomas has coached at the highest level with Bristol Bears (defence) and Worcester where he was head coach. Article continues below He was also part of Warren Gatland's backroom team with Wales, helping his country reach the quarter-finals of the Rugby World Cup in 2023 before departing in the December of that year. Thomas has now taken the helm at Swansea and will be tasked with reinvigorating the famous Welsh club who finished bottom of the SRC table last season. 'Swansea RFC has always been close to my heart," said Thomas. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby. "It was the club that gave me the opportunity and I'll always be grateful. "It's a big part of who I am and my time with the club at the start of my career really helped shape me as a person and a player. "I'm really excited about taking up this role and helping this historic club move forward. 'Since I first signed for Swansea as a youngster 25 years ago, it's been a relentless journey, always looking forward, and it's only when I've taken the last six months out to recharge have I really been able to appreciate the journey I've been on. "I looked at the team towards the end of last season and they certainly didn't look like a team that should have been at the foot of the table. "I need to get know the players I'm working with and find out more about their character and desire to improve "Yes, there's plenty of work to do, starting straight away, but the foundations of a good side is there and it'll be my responsibility to build on that. "It's exciting for the club and it's exciting for me. "Swansea is a big club with a proud history and I want to do that justice, while understanding our relationship with the Ospreys, where I know Mark Jones really well and expect to work closely with him." WRU postpone revamp of women's game The Welsh Rugby Union has put the brakes on the proposed revamp of the professional women's game in Wales, according to the BBC. Celtic Challenge teams Gwalia Lightning and Brython Thunder were to be replaced by new teams but this has been postponed. The WRU had initially asked the four professional clubs - Cardiff, Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets - along with certain universities to bid to form new women's teams. But the BBC report they have seen an internal email between senior WRU officials who have paused the process due to "the ongoing transformation in the men's game." The WRU recently gave two-year notice to the Ospreys and Scarlets who refused to sign the new Professional Rugby Agreement (PRA) due to concerns the governing body had plans to turn Cardiff into a "super region" after it had acquired the capital city club. As it stands there is the very real possibility the WRU could go down to three, if not two, professional men's teams. Join WalesOnline Rugby's WhatsApp Channel here to get the breaking news sent straight to your phone for free This has had a knock-on effect on plans to further develop the women's game. According to the BBC an email from the WRU's head of women's rugby, Belinda Moore, said: "We have made the decision that Brython Thunder and Gwalia Lightning will continue to represent Wales in the flagship tournament next season. "We have taken this in the best interest of our players and management teams and believe this is the right way to guarantee a professional elite sporting environment for our players in the necessary timeframe. "It remains central to the WRU's strategy to grow marketable and commercially viable high-performance clubs for our women players in Wales and we will revisit this in the near future. "I would like to thank all parties for the work they have done to date during the tender process, it is not wasted, and we look forward to picking this up again in earnest at the appropriate time." Losing 'exceptional' Williams would be a huge blow for Lions, says former England wing Former British & Irish Lions wing Ugo Monye labelled Tomos Williams' performance as 'exceptional' in the 54-7 victory over the Western Force in Perth. The 30-year-old was outstanding and scored two tries for the Lions before getting forced off the field with a hamstring injury. Lions head coach Andy Farrell said it was too early to judge the seriousness of Williams' injury but he will almost certainly be out of the midweek game against the Queensland Reds in Brisbane. This poses a significant problem for the Lions with Jamison Gibson-Park also struggling with injury which would leave Alex Mitchell as the only fit number nine. Article continues below "Tomos Williams has been exceptional," Monye told the BBC. "The worry now for the Lions is with Jamison Gibson-Park struggling with injury and yet to play, and Williams with a possible hamstring problem, is them being left light at scrum-half." If both Gibson-Park and Williams were to be sidelined for a couple of games Farrell would almost certainly have to bring a new nine into the squad. England's Jack van Poortvliet trained with the squad in Portugal while Ben White is currently in New Zealand with Scotland.
Yahoo
28-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ex-Wales back row Thomas becomes Swansea head coach
Former Wales back row Jonathan Thomas has become the new head coach of Swansea RFC. The 42-year-old played 67 times for Wales and won Six Nations Grand Slams in 2005 and 2008, as well as playing in two World Cups. Advertisement Thomas started his playing career at Swansea before joining Ospreys, playing 188 times and scoring 14 tries for the Welsh region. He then joined Worcester in May 2013 but he retired from playing in 2015 on medical advice after being diagnosed with epilepsy. Thomas began his coaching career with Bristol in charge of defence and the forwards, before becoming head coach of former English Premiership side Worcester. He left the Warriors in January 2022 and joined Championship side Ealing Trailfinders as a forwards consultant in September that year, before joining the Wales set-up as contact area coach - leaving that role in December 2023. Swansea begin their 2025-26 Super Rygbi Cymru campaign away to Pontypool on 13 September.
BBC News
28-06-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Ex-Wales back row Thomas becomes Swansea head coach
Former Wales back row Jonathan Thomas has become the new head coach of Swansea 42-year-old played 67 times for Wales and won Six Nations Grand Slams in 2005 and 2008, as well as playing in two World started his playing career at Swansea before joining Ospreys, playing 188 times and scoring 14 tries for the Welsh region. He then joined Worcester in May 2013 but he retired from playing in 2015 on medical advice after being diagnosed with began his coaching career with Bristol in charge of defence and the forwards, before becoming head coach of former English Premiership side left the Warriors in January 2022 and joined Championship side Ealing Trailfinders as a forwards consultant in September that year, before joining the Wales set-up as contact area coach - leaving that role in December begin their 2025-26 Super Rygbi Cymru campaign away to Pontypool on 13 September.
BBC News
14-04-2025
- General
- BBC News
Glaslyn ospreys reunite in Wales for third year together
A pair of ospreys have reunited for a third year after returning from winter and Elen have both returned to their newly-restored nest near Porthmadog in lovebirds raised two chicks in their first year together and three last majority of UK ospreys migrate to western Africa, more than 3,000 miles away, before returning to the UK in the spring. Aran, named after the Eryri National Park's Yr Aran summit, was previously partnered with Mrs was one of the UK's most successful breeding female ospreys but failed to return from Africa in was devastated, spending much of his time alone on the nest before being partnered up with Elen who took over as the Glaslyn was named after the mountain Yr Elen, which sits in Eryri's Carneddau range. Elen arrived back in Glaslyn Valley three weeks ago on March 22, according to osprey protection group Bywyd Gwyllt Glaslyn who is celebrating his 11th year at Glaslyn, arrived three weeks later but was surprised to find Elen being courted by a new has had to regain control of his territory since returning by bringing fish to Elen in order to re-establish his suitability as her to the Dyfi Osprey Project there are an estimated 300 pairs of ospreys in the are approximately 270 pairs of ospreys in Scotland, around 25 pairs in England and five pairs in fans will recognise the name as one of the four professional rugby union teams in bird of prey was formerly a symbol on Swansea RFC's jerseys with the current Ospreys logo displaying an image of an osprey mask.
