**Rugby Round-Up: Jac Morgan Joins Lions Camp, Ken Owens Calls for Unity, Ospreys Supporters Criticise WRU**
The rugby world remained abuzz this weekend as significant developments impacted both club and international levels, most notably with Jac Morgan joining the British & Irish Lions gathering and renewed friction within Welsh rugby circles.
Wales captain Jac Morgan made a notable arrival on Sunday evening, joining his new British & Irish Lions teammates for their initial get-together ahead of the upcoming tour to Australia. The 38-man Lions squad convened in Richmond, south-west London, with players from England, Ireland, and Scotland gathering throughout the morning. Morgan, jetting in from South Africa after duties with the Ospreys, joined Tomos Williams as the second Welsh representative. This marks the lowest Welsh representation in the squad in nearly nine decades, a fact not lost on followers of the national team.
Morgan, who learned of his Lions selection while airborne en route to South Africa, described the honour as a career zenith. “When the news came through, it was emotional; everyone on the plane applauded,” he shared. “It’s a massive honour, and it means a great deal to be able to inform my family and share this with them.” Morgan’s reflections underscore the significance attached to joining such an illustrious touring party, especially given Wales’ volatile rugby landscape.
Meanwhile, concerns about Wales’ rugby infrastructure were thrust into sharp relief by former national captain Ken Owens. Commenting on Welsh rugby’s structural turmoil, Owens voiced his frustrations following confirmation that the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) may soon reduce the number of professional regions from four to three. Addressing viewers while covering Newport’s Super Rygbi Cymru victory, Owens remarked, “Welsh rugby seems unable to escape political distractions. We keep encountering negative headlines, and we must find a way to move the game forwards, with players and staff at the heart of any resolution.”
The situation intensified after the WRU issued a formal statement, triggering a two-year termination notice on the Professional Rugby Agreement (PRA). The Ospreys and Scarlets’ refusal to sign the revised PRA – the lynchpin of the WRU’s five-year strategy – has deepened tensions, particularly in view of the union’s recent takeover of Cardiff. According to sources, the WRU’s position is clear: supporting four equally funded regional teams is no longer viable.
Regional backlash followed swiftly, with the Ospreys Supporters Club accusing the WRU of showing a “lack of respect,” condemning what they perceive as an aggressive attempt to sway public opinion. Their statement, echoing concerns voiced by Scarlets supporters, criticised the union for abandoning the collaborative spirit previously promised. “Such a move undermines years of progress and disregards the clubs who have been prudent and financially responsible,” the Ospreys’ fans insisted.
This sentiment highlights the sense of injustice among those who feel their regions are at risk despite their achievements. The Ospreys, after all, have collected four league titles and have consistently supplied top talent to the national team—yet now find themselves facing an uncertain future as the debate about a possible ‘two-tier’ system heats up.
Elsewhere in the rugby world, Harlequins stalwart Danny Care bade farewell to The Stoop in emotional fashion. The 38-year-old scrum-half came off the bench in the latter stages of his club-record 394th match, helping Harlequins edge past Exeter 24-22. Speaking after the final whistle, Care expressed his gratitude for the loyalty and support shown to him over nearly two decades, admitting the magnitude of the moment had moved him to tears multiple times in the previous week.
The British & Irish Lions, meanwhile, pressed on with their preparations, with England’s Ollie Chessum likening the team’s first meeting to a “first day at school.” The squad, which includes six second rows, is eagerly anticipating the starting of their warm-up matches, culminating in the much-awaited Tests against Australia.
As off-field disputes rumble on in Welsh rugby, attention now turns to how both established stars and emerging talents will navigate the challenging landscape ahead. For Morgan, Williams, and their Lions teammates, the focus remains firmly on bonding and high-level performance, while supporters across Wales continue to hope for unity and stability in the region’s rugby future.