Ospreys Confident in St Helen’s Redevelopment Schedule

The Ospreys opted to move to Swansea’s St Helen’s ground instead of Brewery Field in Bridgend. Lance Bradley, chief executive of Ospreys, expressed confidence that the redevelopment of St Helen’s will be finished, allowing the first home match to be held there before the close of 2025. The club stated that their planned relocation to the historic site has advanced “an important step closer” following the City and County of Swansea Council’s ruling cabinet’s conditional agreement to invest in the initiative. Ospreys asserted that the relocation entails a “multi-million pound investment” into St Helen’s, which will feature a 4G pitch and new spectator stands. While official planning permission has not yet been secured, Bradley affirmed that the project will be brought to completion. “The stadium is exciting, it will be built, it is happening,” Bradley informed the Scrum V podcast. The relocation necessitates substantial redevelopment of the renowned old ground, which remains the home of Swansea RFC, to initially expand its current 4,500 capacity to approximately 8,000. Bradley declined to elaborate on the precise funding mechanisms for the project. “We are not talking about the details of the financing,” Bradley stated. “It is in place and the council have invested in the stadium which we are pleased and grateful for and we will take it on a long-term lease.” The Welsh rugby club had previously declared their intention to move from Swansea.com Stadium to the more compact St Helen’s venue for the 2025-26 season. Ospreys will not commence the season in their new home as Swansea Cricket Club is scheduled to continue playing at St Helen’s until the conclusion of their 2025 campaign, prior to relocating to a different city ground. Consequently, Ospreys’ inaugural home fixture at the new location will occur several months into the 2025-26 season. Any home games scheduled between September and November will need to be played at alternative sites. “We can’t start doing the pitch until Swansea Cricket Club have finished their season so that is the end of August,” Bradley explained. “So then we will install the stands and put the pitch in.” “That will take up most of block one of URC (United Rugby Championship) games before the autumn internationals.” “We expect to be able to move in during November so our first games there are going to be at the beginning of block two.” The Ospreys, established in 2003, frequently competed at St Helen’s before relocating to Swansea City’s 21,000-seat stadium in 2005. Last weekend, Ospreys drew a crowd of nearly 7,000 for their festive derby win against Scarlets. “There was a decent atmosphere against the Scarlets but if we had that sort of crowd at St Helen’s it would have been full and that makes a massive difference,” Bradley commented. “For regular games the atmosphere will be better and we have had interest from people who say they don’t come to Swansea.com Stadium but will go to St Helen’s because it will be a better experience and I think it will.” “There is nothing wrong with the Swansea.com Stadium, it’s beautiful but we don’t get close to filling it and the atmosphere is not as good as when we have been to Bridgend.” “When we regularly are having that atmosphere, more people will want to come.” Bradley reported that discussions with the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) regarding a new agreement between the governing bodies and the four professional teams are ongoing. Abi Tierney, WRU chief executive, who was appointed in January 2024, had expressed a desire to establish a long-term Welsh rugby strategy by June. A condensed, bullet-point presentation was introduced last summer, but its complete implementation has been postponed while the WRU proceeds with negotiations involving Ospreys, Cardiff, Scarlets, and Dragons. Bradley expressed optimism that this process will conclude next month. “There is still a bit of work to do but everybody is working collaboratively and I am not expecting it to be very long before we are in a position to be able to sign,” Bradley remarked. “The overall principle has been agreed and the additional funding is also known and we are planning on that basis.” “We are hopeful to have something in place by next month.”