Resilient Ospreys players need certainty - Jones

Ospreys boss Mark Jones has praised his squad for the way they have dealt with uncertainty about the club's future and hopes they will soon get clarity.

The Swansea-based side are preparing for the start of the 2026-27 United Rugby Championship (URC) season amid more off-field strife.

It is the start of a new era for Ospreys, who are returning to a revamped St Helen's in the city, but they remain at risk under Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) plans.

The governing body intends to cut to three men's teams by 2028 with Dragons and Cardiff poised to get licences.

That leaves Ospreys and Llanelli-based Scarlets battling to be the club in the west, meaning more uncertainty for Jones' staff.

The former Wales wing told Scrum V podcast: "They've dealt with the to-ing and fro-ing throughout the year around 'will it be four, will it be three, will it be two, will we buy Cardiff?'.

"All those sorts of things were going on and in the large part they did an incredible job. Not just the players, the staff as well."

The WRU has stated that the process to decide the framework for the final decision on its plans will begin in December and finish before the end of the 2026-27 season.

"The players and the staff, they need the support now more than ever through this period," added Jones, in a wide-ranging conversation.

"There are some really good talented players in these regions. They just need a bit of time, some good support and some certainty."

There were protests from Ospreys supporters last year against both the WRU and owners Y11 Sport & Media, who were in negotiations to buy Cardiff.

"We try to control the things we can control and I'm not going to sugarcoat it, it's been really difficult when you've got to stand in front of people every day and you can't give certainty," head of rugby Dan Griffiths told the Scrum V podcast.

The former fly-half hopes the St Helen's development provides a launchpad for Ospreys, on and off the field.

"It does feel like a new chapter and it's hugely motivating to be part of that," said Griffiths.

"It feels like sometimes you've got to go through the bad times to appreciate the good.

"It's just about moving the Ospreys forward now and trying to fulfil some of our ambition and be back to the days where we've had success at the club."

Ospreys start the season with four away fixtures - Sharks, Lions and Dragons in the URC and Black Lion in the Challenge Cup - before a first game at St Helen's against Dragons on Saturday, 24 October.