Archive January 27, 2026

Former Ospreys players including Shane Williams, Gavin Henson, Ryan Jones and James Hook have united to call for a “rethink” amid uncertainty over the region’s future.

Doubts have emerged over whether Ospreys will exist as a professional side beyond the 2026-27 season after the region’s owners, Y11 Sport & Media, were named by the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) as the preferred option to buy rivals Cardiff.

The governing body wants to reduce the number of men’s professional teams in Wales from four to three, which could be achieved by eliminating Ospreys as a top-tier side through the Y11 takeover process.

“What is being proposed puts at risk the future of professional rugby across Swansea, Neath Port Talbot and Bridgend and the redevelopment of an historic rugby venue at St Helen’s,” the statement added.

“It is also important to recognise how little support these proposals appear to have across the wider Welsh rugby community.

“In particular, Ospreys and Cardiff supporters are united in their opposition and their concern about the future for their respective teams.”

The former Ospreys say “the time is right to speak up” over the WRU and Y11 plans.

They say they are willing to meet the union, either individually or collectively, to share their “experience” and “help shape a positive future for Welsh rugby”.

The former Ospreys point out that rugby in Wales enjoyed “an incredible period of success” built on “four strong teams” following the introduction of regional rugby 23 years ago.

They argue that sport “always goes in cycles” and that removing a region is not the answer as Welsh rugby seeks an upturn in fortunes.

“You don’t quit because you didn’t win. You work harder, adapt, change and rebuild,” the statement continued.

“A lack of long-term investment and clear planning by previous regimes has left Welsh rugby in a difficult place.

The former Ospreys praised current head coach Mark Jones, his staff and players for showing “absolute commitment” despite the uncertainty over the club’s future.

They are currently eighth in the United Rugby Championship (URC) and will take on Ulster in the last 16 of the Challenge Cup.

The group also cite the example of Connacht, who the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) considered disbanding to cut costs in 2003.

After the plans were scrapped amid much opposition, Connacht have thrived as one of four Irish men’s professional teams, even winning the league title in 2016.

“For many of us, it was impossible not to notice the scenes in Galway at the weekend, where a record crowd celebrated the opening of Connacht’s redeveloped stadium,” the former Ospreys said.

Mikel Arteta explained he held a meeting with Arsenal‘s players after the defeat by Manchester United to “bring the temperature down” – as he promised “beautiful” things lie ahead.

A 3-2 loss against United on Sunday was Arsenal’s first home defeat of the season and just their third in the Premier League after 23 games.

The Gunners are four points clear of Manchester City and Aston Villa but are without a win in their three most recent domestic league matches after draws against Nottingham Forest and Liverpool.

Yet Arteta said the reaction in the team meeting was “excellent”, and he believes that bodes well for prospects of success in the remainder of the season.

“We took a moment to bring the temperature down, to pause and to reflect and ask two questions: one is, how do we feel, and how do I feel myself? And then, how are we going to live the next four months?

“And it was so encouraging and beautiful because what came out of that is very simple.”

The Arsenal manager issued his message in a news conference before the home match against Kairat in the Champions League, which takes place on Wednesday.

Arsenal are top of the tree in Europe, with seven wins from seven, while their visitors from Kazakhstan sit bottom of the group phase table.

A first Premier League title since 2004 remains firmly in Arsenal’s sights, with domestic cup success and a tilt at the Champions League trophy also in the picture.

Arteta said: “We have earned the right to be in a great position in four competitions, and in the next four months we’re going to live and play with enjoyment, with a lot of courage and with the conviction that we’re going to win it.

Arteta said that he holds meetings “every three or four weeks” with his squad and that the latest one was so that players “realise where we are” and to “just make sure that we enjoy with a lot of conviction that it’s going to happen because it’s our moment and we really want it”.

Arsenal have finished second for three successive seasons in the Premier League.

The Gunners have not won a trophy since they lifted the FA Cup in 2020, which was in Arteta’s first season in charge.

At times during the match against Manchester United there was a tense atmosphere from the home crowd, with boos heard at the final whistle.

“That’s why I encouraged them to jump in this boat because it’s going to be fun,” Arteta said when asked about home crowd.

Arteta said that it was not pressure from outside the club that led to the meeting.

Instead, he saw it as an opportune moment to take stock after a “hectic” schedule. Before the United defeat, Arsenal had played four away games in a row in four different competitions.

They won three of those away games, drawing the other, and sit top of the Premier League, have a 100% record in the Champions League, have a lead over Chelsea after the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final and are into the fourth round of the FA Cup.

Arteta says that it is “beautiful” to look at what could be ahead.

Third one-day international, R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo

England 357-3 (50 overs): Brook 136* (66), Root 111* (108), Bethell 65 (72)

Sri Lanka 304 (46.4 overs): Rathnayake 121 (115), Nissanka 50 (25); Jacks 2-43

England won by 53 runs; win three-match series 2-1

Joe Root and Harry Brook hit hugely contrasting, but equally brilliant, unbeaten centuries as England beat Sri Lanka by 53 runs to clinch a one-day international series win.

After a slow start from England, Root was a picture of calm on his way to a 20th ODI century, sharing a stand of 126 with Jacob Bethell, before Brook joined him in the 32nd over.

Just as Root brought up an elegant run-a-ball century, Brook kicked into gear and produced an astonishing onslaught to reach his hundred from 57 balls.

An unbroken stand of 191 took England to a commanding 357-3, comfortably their highest ODI total in Sri Lanka, with captain Brook finishing on an ODI best 136 and Root on 111.

Upon reaching three figures, Brook, who was fined after an altercation with a nightclub bouncer in New Zealand last year, celebrated in the style of WWE wrestler Steve ‘Stone Cold’ Austin, who would regularly smash two cans of beer together in the ring before drinking them.

The tourists were given a scare as Sri Lanka exploded out of the blocks in the chase, hammering 104 runs in the powerplay, albeit for the loss of three wickets.

Opener Pathum Nissanka got to 50 from 24 balls but picked out the fielder in the deep from his 25th and England gradually clawed the hosts back.

After low-scoring affairs in the first two matches of the series, the pitch in Colombo proved much better for batting but did slow up and offer more turn as the chase went on.

Pavan Rathnayake did his best to keep the hosts in contention with a fine maiden international hundred, from 104 balls, but if his was the Root-like knock, Sri Lanka found no Brook equivalent.

As wickets tumbled at the other end, Rathnayake attempted to cut loose after reaching his ton but he was the last man out, bowled by Sam Curran for 121 in the 47th over.

The two centuries could hardly have been more different.

Root all touch and timing, getting the tempo of his innings just right, on a low, slow turner.

He set the platform from which England could launch, and launch – time and again – Brook did.

For a team who have struggled so much in the format in recent times, this was something approaching a perfectly constructed 50-over innings with the two Yorkshiremen leading the way.

For much of the innings, batting looked tricky. Patience was the name of the game for England after Ben Duckett and Rehan Ahmed lost theirs, but Root produced a masterclass in it.

There was never any sense of panic in his flawless knock. There were 58 singles in his innings as he rotated the strike at will, finding the gaps, manipulating the field – this isn’t the exciting stuff but it is bedrock of what makes Root great.

Sri Lanka could not put him under any pressure as he scored freely off both front foot and back, and either side of the wicket, with nine boundaries and a six in his 108-ball knock.

It meant Brook had the freedom to take his time and adapt to conditions initially before rapidly moving through the gears.

He brought up his half-century from 40 balls with a six, going inside-out over extra cover. Seventeen deliveries later, he was celebrating his century.

Sri Lanka’s bowlers had no answer as Brook switched seamlessly between dancing down the track and going deep in his crease.

Whichever option he chose, the ball invariably flew to – or over – the boundary.

In total, Brook struck 11 fours and nine sixes in a timely reminder of his supreme natural talent.

Sri Lanka knew it was going to take a staggering effort to chase down 358 – it would have been not only a record chase at the R Premadasa Stadium but their highest successful chase in ODI cricket.

The first ball of the replay showed just how fine the margins were for Charith Asalanka’s men.

Nissanka showed his intent as he took on a short ball from Jamie Overton but almost picked out mid-wicket, where Ben Duckett flung himself into the air and nearly took a stunning catch.

Sri Lanka had to be aggressive, put the pressure on the England bowlers but not make mistakes.

A tough ask but they gave it a good go with Nissanka and Kamil Mishara getting them off to a flyer, and Kusal Mendis briefly joining the fun as well.

But by the time the powerplay was over, all three had fallen.

England’s bowlers held firm and when Adil Rashid removed Asalanka in the 15th over, they were able to settle things down.

The pitch began to slow and take more spin with England’s bowlers finding 3.7 degrees of turn, more than 40% more than the 2.6 degrees their Sri Lankan counterparts managed in the first innings.

Spinners Rashid, Liam Dawson and Will Jacks took two wickets each as the bowlers took control and managed to put the pressure back on the Sri Lanka batters.

Rathnayake did well to withstand the pressure and keep the scoreboard moving but, ultimately, he was left with too much to do.