Image source, Huw Evans Picture AgencyImage caption, Mark Jones joined Ospreys' coaching staff in 2023
6 CommentsUpdated 4 minutes agoOspreys and Scarlets have welcomed the offer to sign a new agreement with the Welsh Rugby Union that could guarantee their survival until at last least 2028.
Head coach Mark Jones believes the future is looking brighter for Ospreys after their owners pulled out of a bid to buy rivals Cardiff.
The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) confirmed on Wednesday that negotiations with Y11 Sport & Media over purchasing the Arms Park club had collapsed without a deal.
Y11 have announced they will now sign the Professional Rugby Agreement (PRA) while Scarlets say they could follow suit "shortly" despite both regions previously refusing to sign.
That deal agreement run to 2030 but the WRU has the option to serve a two-year notice period and has said it intends to press on with plans to cut the number of professional clubs four to three.
Nonetheless, Jones is relieved Ospreys' future has been secured to 2028.
"It's positive news for Welsh rugby in general, not just the Ospreys," said the former Wales wing.
"The outlook is looking a lot more positive over the next couple of seasons.
"If everything is signed off then we get some security around all areas of the agreement for another season on top of next year.
"That definitely helps around staffing, player recruitment, retention and general morale. It's a big help for everybody."
Cardiff and Dragons signed the PRA deal last year and with Ospreys now set to sign, that looks to have forced Scarlets' hand.
The region said it welcomed the opportunity to enter the agreement for the next two years.
"We will continue to engage constructively with the WRU on its future strategy, with the aim of signing the PRA25 agreement shortly following due diligence," the club said in a statement.
"The PRA25 update is welcomed as it brings the prospect of increased stability, security and clearer governance over the next two years - with greater clarity and a more equitable framework for the professional game."
Earlier this month, Scarlets announced it has secured further investment from the existing funding group.
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That has also raised questions over Ospreys' plans to move to St Helen's in Swansea next season after playing at Bridgend's Brewery Field this season.