Steve Tandy’s men take on English heavyweights Saracens on Friday night in the first match of this season’s LV= Cup.
It’s been 11 years and two months today since the newly formed region were roared on to a 41-30 victory in their very first match against Ulster at the Neath ground.
And Rugby Operations Manager Andrew Milward – an Ospreys original and former Neath stalwart – cannot wait to return to his old hunting ground.
He said: “I’ve got great memories of the Gnoll, from my time with Neath and from our first couple of years as Ospreys.
“I was fortunate enough to be a part of some big occasions there as an Osprey, most notably obviously the first match against Ulster and the Edinburgh game where we won our first title.
“To be on that pitch when thousands of supporters poured on at the end to celebrate was something that will always stick in the memory, but these boys involved at the weekend have a chance to create their own history.”
However, Milward is not getting too sentimental. The Anglo-Welsh tournament has given budding stars the platform to stake a claim for a regular starting berth over the years.
And the former front-rower wants the Ospreys’ hatchlings to fly when they welcome the European Cup and Premiership finalists to Neath.
He said: “It’s a great opportunity for them to go out and stake a claim for a place in the Ospreys jersey, and to follow in the footsteps of people like James King, Justin Tipuric, Hanno Dirksen, Sam Lewis and Lloyd Peers who used this competition to start to establish themselves in the squad.
“It’s also a chance for some of these youngsters to wear the jersey and represent their region out in the community, in front of their friends and family, and to learn a bit more about the tradition, the history and the culture that the Ospreys shirt represents.”
