After a thorough bidding process for a new home for Wales’ top region of last season, the long-standing home of Swansea RFC has been earmarked for a major redevelopment. The Gnoll and the Brewery Field, respective homes of Neath and Bridgend, were the other venues considered by the Ospreys owners.
“Following an extensive search, it was announced in May that the options had been narrowed down to St Helen’s and the Dunraven Brewery Field in Bridgend. We would like to place on record our thanks to both Bridgend Ravens and Bridgend County Borough Council for their outstanding support during our search,” said an Ospreys statement.
“The move to St Helen’s not only keeps us close to the majority of our supporter and sponsor bases, but also allows us to work with the City and County of Swansea Council to inject new life into the famous St Helen’s Sports Ground. We feel privileged to have the opportunity to make our home at the ground where Wales played their first ever international rugby match in 1882.”
A multi-million pound investment in the site will see the installation of a new 4G pitch, new stands, a refurbishment of the club house, and the introduction of a new fan zone area. The aim is to provide supporters with an unrivalled match day experience and develop new opportunities for non-match day events and revenue.
Importantly, Swansea RFC, who will be playing in Super Rygbi Cymru, and Swansea University, who will hopefully remain in the BUCS Super Rugby league, will continue to play at St Helen’s.
Swansea Cricket Club, who have played at the venue since 1893 and been engaged in the plans about the redevelopment of the site, will learn where they will be playing their games in future and in due course.
“Moving to a ground we can call our own home will be transformational for everyone involved with the club – including players, staff, supporters and sponsors,” said Ospreys CEO Lance Bradley.
“Our investment demonstrates our confidence not only in the plans we have both on and off the pitch, but also our confidence in the future of Welsh rugby and the plans being developed by the Welsh Rugby Union.”
St Helen’s Sports Ground is owned by Swansea Council, who have ambitious plans to develop the whole area into an elite sports park. Rob Stewart, leader of the council, was pleased with Ospreys’ decision to select Swansea as their preferred future home.
“We’re delighted with the Ospreys announcement that they’d like to return to St Helen’s. It’s something many Ospreys fans will be very excited about,” he said.
“We’ve worked closely with Lance and his team throughout their search for a preferred new home, and this is really great news for the city. Swansea is a fantastic location for elite sport, with Swansea University a leader in the field of sports science.
“We have significant ambitions for a sports science park in Swansea and the Ospreys’ aim to commit their long-term future to Swansea aligns with this. We’ll work hard with them and others to explore their vision over the coming weeks and months.
“There remains more work to do but we now have clarity to move forward with discussions.”
The Swansea.Com Stadium will remain the home of the Ospreys for the upcoming 2024-25 campaign in both the BKT United Rugby Championship and the EPCR Challenge Cup, although some games could be moved to alternative venues once again if there are any clashes with Swansea City fixtures.
ST HELEN’S – DID YOU KNOW . . .
The ground was laid out on a reclaimed sandbank and was first used by Swansea Cricket Club in 1875
The Australian cricketers played the South Wales Cricket Club at the venue in 1878
Glamorgan CCC played Minor Counties matches at the ground from 1897 and County Championship games from 1921
Gary Sobers hit six sixes in an over from Malcolm Nash in a county championship match between Glamorgan and Nottinghamshire in 1968
In 1973 England played an ODI against New Zealand, and 10 years later Pakistan took on Sri Lanka in the World Cup
Wales played its first Home Nations international rugby match at the ground in December 1882 against England, the first of 50 Welsh Tests played there
15 Wales Rugby League internationals have been played at the ground as well as one Welsh football international in
Wales Women have played five games at the venue and famously beat England 13-0 in 2015
