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Ospreys (rugby union)
Encyclopedia
The Ospreys formerly the Neath-Swansea Ospreys , are a professional rugby union
team from Wales
, playing in the Celtic League
, EDF Energy Cup
, and the Heineken Cup
/European Challenge Cup
. At the start of the 2005–06 season, they dropped the Neath-Swansea prefix from their name and are simply known as the Ospreys, however the company is still Neath-Swansea Ospreys.
The Ospreys are one of the five original clubs of the Welsh Regional Rugby Era
. The club came into being in the summer of 2003 when the WRU
controversially elected to reduce the current top tier of Welsh professional rugby from nine clubs into five regions, attempting to mirror the successful formats in Ireland and the Southern Hemisphere
countries of South Africa
, Australia and New Zealand.
The Ospreys represent Neath Port Talbot
, Swansea
, and areas of the Upper Swansea Valley. The team was initially created as a partnership between the area's two most successful clubs – Neath RFC
and Swansea RFC
– who still retain ownership of the club on a 50:50 basis.
In summer 2004, due to the liquidation of the Celtic Warriors
region, Neath-Swansea Ospreys had their borders extended to cover much of the Bridgend
and Ogmore
areas to the east. However, for logistical reasons, it was decided that no home games would be played at Bridgend RFC
's Brewery Field
.
In 2004/05 they won the Celtic League
.
In April 2006, it was announced that noted former New Zealand All Blacks
scrum half Justin Marshall
had signed to play for Ospreys. In November 2006 when it became apparent that Wales 'A' would not be able to face Australia
midweek during their November tour
, the Ospreys became the first Welsh region to play a major international side since regional rugby was introduced, a match they won 24–16.
The Ospreys won the Celtic League
during the 2006/07 season, topping the league by a single point and taking the title with an away win at Borders. Winning the Celtic League for a second time meant the Ospreys were the first team to have won the Celtic League twice. In February 2008, the Ospreys provided 13 of the starting line-up for Wales
in their Six Nations
match against England, setting a new record for the number of players from one region playing for their national side. During the 2007/08 season the Ospreys reached Quarter-final of the Heineken Cup
for the first time but unexpectedly lost to Saracens
. The following week they won the EDF Energy Cup
beating Leicester Tigers
at Twickenham
. On 16 May 2008, head coach Lyn Jones
, who to that point had been Ospreys' only coach, resigned.
The term Ospreylia has been adopted by the region and its supporters as a description of the geographical area covered by the region, with supporters known as Ospreylians. Peter Black
, Assembly Member for south west Wales has declared himself as AM for Ospreylia on his own blog.
On 21 April 2009, the Ospreys had six players included in the British and Irish Lions
' squad for the 2009 South African tour: Lee Byrne
(Fullback), Tommy Bowe
and Shane Williams
(Wings), Mike Phillips
(Scrum Half), Alun-Wyn Jones (Lock) and Adam Jones
(Prop). One notable omission however, was Wales and Ospreys captain Ryan Jones
.
Scott Johnson
, the former Head Coach of the Welsh national team, and Attack Coach when Wales won the Six Nations Championship
Grand Slam
in 2005 for the first time in 27 years, was announced as Director of Coaching at the Ospreys on 29 January 2009. Widely recognised as an excellent technical coach who has inspired fierce loyalty and admiration from players whom he has coached and is notable for producing teams who play inventive, original, entertaining and attacking rugby, Johnson is in overall charge of the Ospreys coaching and playing matters.
On 9 May 2009 the Ospreys announced the signing of the noted former New Zealand All Blacks
captain
Jerry Collins
. Collins had been a stalwart at blind-side flanker
for the All Blacks, since 2004 but retired from international rugby in 2008. He can also play in the No. 8 and openside flanker positions. He is regarded as one of the most fearsome players in his position in world rugby. He is revered for his tenacity, fierce physicality and ability to play through pain. He is also widely regarded as one of the most intimidating players in the rugby world with his size and brutal tackling. On 29 May 2010, the Ospreys won the 2009–10 Celtic League by defeating Leinster
in the final by 17–12 at the RDS
.
They since went on to play Worcester 'A' in April, a game which they lost 24–23 to an injury-time penalty.
In their first two seasons, the Ospreys shared their home games between St Helen's (home ground of Swansea RFC
) and The Gnoll
(home ground of Neath RFC
). Since their third season in 2005–06, they have played at the purpose-built 20,000 seat Liberty Stadium
in Landore
, Swansea
, which is shared with Swansea City FC. The Liberty Stadium, with double the capacity of St Helen's, has seen a capacity crowd for the matches against international tourists Australia
(1 November 2006) and against local rivals the Scarlets.
who have produced all Ospreys kit since their innovation in 2003. The shirt's primary sponsor is npower
renewables, with secondary sponsorship including Worthington's, Trade Depot, Persimmon, Taylors Regional Food, The Trade Center Wales, Solo Service Group, John West Food Ltd and Cuddy Group. The Ospreys' jersey is currently the second most popular by sales figures throughout the United Kingdom and Ireland, behind Munster
.
from
The Rock
George Stowers
from
London Irish
Kahn Fotuali'i from
Crusaders Joe Bearman
from
Newport Gwent Dragons
Aaron Jarvis
from Bath
Pete Smith from
Northern Suburbs
Hanno Dirksen
to
Perpignan
Lee Byrne
to Clermont
Mike Phillips
to Bayonne
Jerry Collins
to
Yamaha Júbilo
Jamie Nutbrown
to Bay of Plenty
Craig Mitchell
to Exeter
Marty Holah
to Waikato
Jonathan Spratt
to London Irish
Matthew Jarvis to Connacht
Rory Pitman to
Glasgow Warriors
on Loan Andy Lloyd
to Ospreys management team Ben Lewis
retired due to injury Conor McInerney retired due to injury
touring squads while playing for the Ospreys. Brent Cockbain
2005 Gavin Henson
2005 Ryan Jones
2005, 2009 Shane Williams
2005, 2009 Tommy Bowe
2009 Lee Byrne
2009 Adam Jones
2009 Alun Wyn Jones
2009 Mike Phillips
2009 James Hook
2009
* Includes 2 "Free Weekends" which equated to 4 points each
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
team from Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, playing in the Celtic League
Celtic League (rugby union)
The Celtic League is an annual rugby union competition involving professional sides from Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales....
, EDF Energy Cup
EDF Energy Cup
The Anglo-Welsh Cup, currently known for sponsorship reasons as the LV Cup , is an English and Welsh rugby union knock-out cup competition featuring the twelve Aviva Premiership clubs and four Welsh Regions...
, and the Heineken Cup
Heineken Cup
The Heineken Cup is one of two annual rugby union competitions organised by European Rugby Cup involving leading club, regional and provincial teams from the six International Rugby Board countries in Europe whose national teams compete in the Six Nations Championship: England, France, Ireland,...
/European Challenge Cup
European Challenge Cup
The European Challenge Cup, currently known for sponsorship reasons as the Amlin Challenge Cup, is one of two annual rugby union competitions organised by European Rugby Cup. The cup was known as the Parker Pen Shield from 2001 to 2003 and Parker Pen Challenge Cup from 2003 to 2005. The European...
. At the start of the 2005–06 season, they dropped the Neath-Swansea prefix from their name and are simply known as the Ospreys, however the company is still Neath-Swansea Ospreys.
History
The Ospreys are one of the five original clubs of the Welsh Regional Rugby Era
Introduction of regional rugby union teams in Wales
The introduction of regional rugby union teams in Wales occurred prior to the start of the 2003/04 rugby union season. From this date, Wales was represented by a smaller number of regional teams in both the Celtic League and European Cup competitions, where previously the top club sides were...
. The club came into being in the summer of 2003 when the WRU
Welsh Rugby Union
The Welsh Rugby Union is the governing body of rugby union in Wales, recognised by the International Rugby Board.The union's patron is Queen Elizabeth II, and her grandson Prince William of Wales became the Vice Royal Patron of the Welsh Rugby Union as of February 2007.-History:The roots of the...
controversially elected to reduce the current top tier of Welsh professional rugby from nine clubs into five regions, attempting to mirror the successful formats in Ireland and the Southern Hemisphere
Southern Hemisphere
The Southern Hemisphere is the part of Earth that lies south of the equator. The word hemisphere literally means 'half ball' or "half sphere"...
countries of South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, Australia and New Zealand.
The Ospreys represent Neath Port Talbot
Neath Port Talbot
Neath Port Talbot is a county borough and one of the unitary authority areas of Wales. Neath Port Talbot is the 8th most populous county in Wales and the third most populous county borough....
, Swansea
Swansea
Swansea is a coastal city and county in Wales. Swansea is in the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan. Situated on the sandy South West Wales coast, the county area includes the Gower Peninsula and the Lliw uplands...
, and areas of the Upper Swansea Valley. The team was initially created as a partnership between the area's two most successful clubs – Neath RFC
Neath RFC
Neath Rugby Football Club is a Welsh rugby union club which plays in the Welsh Premier Division. The club's home ground is The Gnoll, Neath. The first team is known as the Welsh All Blacks because of the team colours: black with only a white cross pattée as an emblem...
and Swansea RFC
Swansea RFC
Swansea Rugby Football Club is a Welsh rugby union team which plays in the Welsh Premier Division. Its home ground is St Helens Rugby and Cricket Ground in Swansea. The team is sometimes known as The Whites because of the primary colour of the team strip...
– who still retain ownership of the club on a 50:50 basis.
In summer 2004, due to the liquidation of the Celtic Warriors
Celtic Warriors
The Celtic Warriors were a regional rugby union team from Wales, who played in the Celtic League and Heineken Cup between 2003 and 2004.-History:The Warriors were one of the five original regions of the Welsh Regional Rugby Era...
region, Neath-Swansea Ospreys had their borders extended to cover much of the Bridgend
Bridgend
Bridgend is a town in the Bridgend County Borough in Wales, west of the capital, Cardiff. The river crossed by the original bridge, which gave the town its name, is the River Ogmore but the River Ewenny also passes to the south of the town...
and Ogmore
Ogmore-by-Sea
Ogmore-by-Sea is a seaside village in the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales. It lies on the western limit of the Glamorgan Heritage Coastline of south Wales....
areas to the east. However, for logistical reasons, it was decided that no home games would be played at Bridgend RFC
Bridgend RFC
Bridgend Ravens are a semi-professional rugby union club based in Bridgend, South Wales. They currently play in the Welsh Premier Division...
's Brewery Field
Brewery Field
Brewery Field is a 8,000 capacity sports stadium in Bridgend, Wales 1,100 of which is seated capacity...
.
In 2004/05 they won the Celtic League
Celtic League (rugby union)
The Celtic League is an annual rugby union competition involving professional sides from Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales....
.
In April 2006, it was announced that noted former New Zealand All Blacks
All Blacks
The New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport....
scrum half Justin Marshall
Justin Marshall
Justin Warren Marshall, MNZM is a New Zealand rugby union footballer. He was born in Mataura and educated in Gore before settling in Christchurch. Marshall played 81 games for the New Zealand All Blacks between 1995 and 2005...
had signed to play for Ospreys. In November 2006 when it became apparent that Wales 'A' would not be able to face Australia
Australia national rugby union team
The Australian national rugby union team is the representative side of Australia in rugby union. The national team is nicknamed the Wallabies and competes annually with New Zealand and South Africa in the Tri-Nations Series, in which they also contest the Bledisloe Cup with New Zealand and the...
midweek during their November tour
2006 Wallabies Spring Tour
The 2006 Australian national rugby union team tour to Europe, known in Australia as the 2006 Wallabies Spring Tour, is part of a 2006 end-of-year rugby test series and takes place in November 2006...
, the Ospreys became the first Welsh region to play a major international side since regional rugby was introduced, a match they won 24–16.
The Ospreys won the Celtic League
Celtic League (rugby union)
The Celtic League is an annual rugby union competition involving professional sides from Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales....
during the 2006/07 season, topping the league by a single point and taking the title with an away win at Borders. Winning the Celtic League for a second time meant the Ospreys were the first team to have won the Celtic League twice. In February 2008, the Ospreys provided 13 of the starting line-up for Wales
Wales national rugby union team
The Wales national rugby union team represent Wales in international rugby union tournaments. They compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland, Italy and Scotland. Wales have won the Six Nations and its predecessors 24 times outright, second only to England with...
in their Six Nations
Six Nations Championship
The Six Nations Championship is an annual international rugby union competition involving six European sides: England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales....
match against England, setting a new record for the number of players from one region playing for their national side. During the 2007/08 season the Ospreys reached Quarter-final of the Heineken Cup
Heineken Cup
The Heineken Cup is one of two annual rugby union competitions organised by European Rugby Cup involving leading club, regional and provincial teams from the six International Rugby Board countries in Europe whose national teams compete in the Six Nations Championship: England, France, Ireland,...
for the first time but unexpectedly lost to Saracens
Saracens F.C.
Saracens are a professional rugby union team based in St. Albans, England – although they play their home games at Vicarage Road, in Watford. They are currently members of the Aviva Premiership, the top level of domestic rugby union in England...
. The following week they won the EDF Energy Cup
EDF Energy Cup
The Anglo-Welsh Cup, currently known for sponsorship reasons as the LV Cup , is an English and Welsh rugby union knock-out cup competition featuring the twelve Aviva Premiership clubs and four Welsh Regions...
beating Leicester Tigers
Leicester Tigers
Leicester Tigers is an English rugby union club that plays in the Aviva Premiership.Leicester are the most successful English club since the introduction of league rugby in 1987, a record 9 times English champions - 3 more than either Bath or Wasps, the last of which was in 2010...
at Twickenham
Twickenham Stadium
Twickenham Stadium is a stadium located in Twickenham, in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. It is the largest rugby union stadium in the United Kingdom and has recently been enlarged to seat 82,000...
. On 16 May 2008, head coach Lyn Jones
Lyn Jones
Richard Lyn Jones is a former Wales international rugby union player. A flanker, he played his club rugby for Neath RFC. He was appointed Head Coach of the Ospreys when the regional team was created in 2003 but left by mutual agreement on 16 May 2008 and joined Newport Gwent Dragons in November 2008...
, who to that point had been Ospreys' only coach, resigned.
The term Ospreylia has been adopted by the region and its supporters as a description of the geographical area covered by the region, with supporters known as Ospreylians. Peter Black
Peter Black (Welsh politician)
Peter Black is a Welsh Liberal Democrat politician, and Member of the Welsh Assembly for the South Wales West Region.-Background:...
, Assembly Member for south west Wales has declared himself as AM for Ospreylia on his own blog.
On 21 April 2009, the Ospreys had six players included in the British and Irish Lions
British and Irish Lions
The British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales...
' squad for the 2009 South African tour: Lee Byrne
Lee Byrne
Lee Martin Byrne is a Welsh international rugby union rugby player, who plays for ASM Clermont Auvergne in the Top 14 and Heineken Cup...
(Fullback), Tommy Bowe
Tommy Bowe
Thomas John "Tommy" Bowe is an Irish rugby union footballer from County Monaghan, Ireland...
and Shane Williams
Shane Williams
Shane Mark Williams is a Welsh international rugby union player who plays as a wing for the Ospreys and who can also play scrum-half. Williams is the record try scorer for the Wales national team and he is third on the international list of leading Rugby union Test try scorers behind Daisuke Ohata...
(Wings), Mike Phillips
Mike Phillips (rugby player)
William Michael "Mike" Phillips is a Welsh international rugby union rugby player who plays at scrum-half for Bayonne.-Personal life:...
(Scrum Half), Alun-Wyn Jones (Lock) and Adam Jones
Adam Rhys Jones
Adam Rhys Jones is a Welsh international rugby union player, currently playing for the Ospreys in the RaboDirect Pro12. His usual position is at tighthead prop...
(Prop). One notable omission however, was Wales and Ospreys captain Ryan Jones
Ryan Jones
Ryan Paul Jones is a Welsh international rugby union player who plays at number eight for the Ospreys. He is able to cover blindside flanker and second row; he played second row in his younger days as he was kept out of his preferred number 8 role by Gareth Delve.-Early life:Jones played junior...
.
Scott Johnson
Scott Johnson (rugby coach)
Scott Johnson , is an Australian rugby union coach.-Playing career:Playing as a fly half or a centre, Johnson played for Parramatta Two Blues and Eastwood, and was captain of both the New South Wales Waratahs and Australian Under 21s...
, the former Head Coach of the Welsh national team, and Attack Coach when Wales won the Six Nations Championship
Six Nations Championship
The Six Nations Championship is an annual international rugby union competition involving six European sides: England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales....
Grand Slam
Grand Slam (Rugby Union)
In rugby union, a Grand Slam occurs when one team in the Six Nations Championship manages to beat all the others during one year's competition...
in 2005 for the first time in 27 years, was announced as Director of Coaching at the Ospreys on 29 January 2009. Widely recognised as an excellent technical coach who has inspired fierce loyalty and admiration from players whom he has coached and is notable for producing teams who play inventive, original, entertaining and attacking rugby, Johnson is in overall charge of the Ospreys coaching and playing matters.
On 9 May 2009 the Ospreys announced the signing of the noted former New Zealand All Blacks
All Blacks
The New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport....
captain
Captain (sports)
In team sports, a captain is a title given to a member of the team. The title is frequently honorary, but in some cases the captain may have significant responsibility for strategy and teamwork while the game is in progress on the field...
Jerry Collins
Jerry Collins
Jerry Collins is a New Zealand rugby union footballer who formerly played for the national team, the All Blacks in which he was capped 48 times. He now plays for Yamaha Jubilo, in Japanese Top league rugby.-Early career:...
. Collins had been a stalwart at blind-side flanker
Flanker (rugby union)
A flanker is a position in the sport of rugby union. Flankers play in the forwards, and are generally classified as either blindside, or openside flankers; numbers six and seven respectively. The name comes from their position in a scrum in which they flank each set of forwards...
for the All Blacks, since 2004 but retired from international rugby in 2008. He can also play in the No. 8 and openside flanker positions. He is regarded as one of the most fearsome players in his position in world rugby. He is revered for his tenacity, fierce physicality and ability to play through pain. He is also widely regarded as one of the most intimidating players in the rugby world with his size and brutal tackling. On 29 May 2010, the Ospreys won the 2009–10 Celtic League by defeating Leinster
Leinster Rugby
Leinster Rugby, usually referred to simply as Leinster, is an Irish professional rugby union team based in Dublin, representing the Irish province of Leinster, that competes in the RaboDirect Pro 12 and also competes in the Heineken Cup...
in the final by 17–12 at the RDS
RDS Arena
RDS Arena is a multi-purpose sports stadium, owned by the Royal Dublin Society and located in the Dublin suburb of Ballsbridge, Ireland.The arena was originally developed to host equestrian events, including the annual Dublin Horse Show, which was first held there in 1868. The site was acquired in...
.
Ospreys A
On 23 February 2007, the Ospreys played their first 'A' team match, against Newport-Gwent Dragons 'A' at Bridgend, which was the first 'A' match fixture for any of the Welsh regional sides. They lost the match 22–10.They since went on to play Worcester 'A' in April, a game which they lost 24–23 to an injury-time penalty.
Home ground
Swansea RFC
Swansea Rugby Football Club is a Welsh rugby union team which plays in the Welsh Premier Division. Its home ground is St Helens Rugby and Cricket Ground in Swansea. The team is sometimes known as The Whites because of the primary colour of the team strip...
) and The Gnoll
The Gnoll
The Gnoll in Neath, Wales is a sports ground, with a capacity of 5,000.In July 2009, Neath RFC presented plans for the redevelopment of the Gnoll, including building a community centre on the site, which were criticised as "too woolly".-Rugby union:...
(home ground of Neath RFC
Neath RFC
Neath Rugby Football Club is a Welsh rugby union club which plays in the Welsh Premier Division. The club's home ground is The Gnoll, Neath. The first team is known as the Welsh All Blacks because of the team colours: black with only a white cross pattée as an emblem...
). Since their third season in 2005–06, they have played at the purpose-built 20,000 seat Liberty Stadium
Liberty Stadium, Swansea
The Liberty Stadium is a purpose-built sports stadium and conferencing venue in the Landore area of Swansea, Wales. The stadium is all-seated, with a capacity of 20,532 making it the largest purpose-built venue in Swansea and the third largest stadium in Wales after the Millennium Stadium and the...
in Landore
Landore
Landore is the name of an electoral ward, a community in the City and County of Swansea, Wales, UK. The community does not have a community council....
, Swansea
Swansea
Swansea is a coastal city and county in Wales. Swansea is in the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan. Situated on the sandy South West Wales coast, the county area includes the Gower Peninsula and the Lliw uplands...
, which is shared with Swansea City FC. The Liberty Stadium, with double the capacity of St Helen's, has seen a capacity crowd for the matches against international tourists Australia
2006 Wallabies Spring Tour
The 2006 Australian national rugby union team tour to Europe, known in Australia as the 2006 Wallabies Spring Tour, is part of a 2006 end-of-year rugby test series and takes place in November 2006...
(1 November 2006) and against local rivals the Scarlets.
Strip
The Ospreys shirt for 2010–11 features a combination of black and purple, the colour of status in Ancient Rome.The Ospreys' shirt for the 2009/10 season was mainly black and gold. The kit is currently manufactured by KoogaKooGa
KooGa is an Australia-based rugby apparel company. It was established in December 1999. The company is headquartered in Labrador on the Gold Coast of Queensland, with other Australian offices as well as a UK office in Rochdale, Greater Manchester....
who have produced all Ospreys kit since their innovation in 2003. The shirt's primary sponsor is npower
Npower (UK)
RWE Npower plc is a UK-based electricity and gas supply generation company, formerly known as Innogy plc. As Innogy plc it was listed on the London Stock Exchange and was a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index...
renewables, with secondary sponsorship including Worthington's, Trade Depot, Persimmon, Taylors Regional Food, The Trade Center Wales, Solo Service Group, John West Food Ltd and Cuddy Group. The Ospreys' jersey is currently the second most popular by sales figures throughout the United Kingdom and Ireland, behind Munster
Munster Rugby
Munster Rugby is an Irish professional rugby union team based in Munster, that competes in the RaboDirect Pro12 and Heineken Cup.The team represents the Irish Rugby Football Union Munster Branch which is one of four primary branches of the IRFU, and is responsible for rugby union in the Irish...
.
Management
| Officer | Position |
|---|---|
| Scott Johnson Scott Johnson (rugby coach) Scott Johnson , is an Australian rugby union coach.-Playing career:Playing as a fly half or a centre, Johnson played for Parramatta Two Blues and Eastwood, and was captain of both the New South Wales Waratahs and Australian Under 21s... |
Director of Coaching |
| Andrew Hore Andrew Hore (rugby coach) Andrew Hore in New Zealand, is a rugby union coach. He is the current elite performance director at Welsh regional side the Ospreys, leaving an elite development role with the New Zealand Rugby Union in December 2007.... |
Elite Performance Director |
| Sean Holley | Head Coach |
| Jonathan Humphreys Jonathan Humphreys Jonathan Matthews Humphreys is a former international Wales rugby union player who during his career also captained Wales. A hooker, he played his club rugby for Cardiff and Bath and was in the Wales squad during the 1995 Rugby World Cup and 1999 Rugby World Cup.-Notes:... |
Forwards Coach |
| Alex Lawson | Fitness Coach |
| Damian Karauna | Video Analyst |
| Chris Towers | Physiotherapist |
| Daloni Lucas | Physiotherapist |
Current squad
- Qualified to play for Wales on Residency grounds *
- Qualified to play for Wales on Dual Nationality grounds **
In
Chauncey O'TooleChauncey O'Toole
Chauncey O'Toole is a Canadian rugby union player. O'Toole can play any position across the back-row but his preferred position is at openside flanker...
from
The RockThe Rock (rugby team)
The Rock, also known as the Atlantic Rock, are a Canadian rugby union team based in St. John's, Newfoundland & Labrador. The team plays in the Canadian Rugby Championship and is intended to draw most of its players from the rugby unions of Canada's five Eastern provinces: Quebec, New Brunswick,...
George Stowers
George Stowers
George Stowers is a Samoan international rugby union player. He currently plays for the Ospreys in the RaboDirect Pro12. He plays as a Flanker or a No.8.-Club career:...
from
London IrishLondon Irish
London Irish RFC is an English rugby union club based in Sunbury, Surrey, where the senior squad train, the youth teams and senior academy play home games, and the club maintain their administrative offices. The senior squad play home games at the Madejski Stadium in Reading and compete in the top...
Kahn Fotuali'i from
Crusaders Joe BearmanJoe Bearman
Joe Bearman is an English rugby union player. A flanker, he currently plays his club rugby for the Ospreys having previously played for the Newport Gwent Dragons and the Cornish Pirates....
from
Newport Gwent DragonsNewport Gwent Dragons
Newport Gwent Dragons are one of the four professional Rugby Union regional teams in Wales. They are jointly owned by Newport RFC and the Welsh Rugby Union and play all their home games at Rodney Parade, Newport. They play in the RaboDirect Pro12, the Anglo-Welsh Cup and the Heineken Cup...
Aaron Jarvis
Aaron Jarvis
Aaron Jarvis is a rugby union player previously playing for Bath Rugby in the Aviva Premiership, playing predominantly as a prop. In February 2011, it was revealed that he had signed to the Ospreys for the 2011/12 season.-References:Ospreys capture Bath prop Jarvis -External links:*...
from
BathBath Rugby
Bath Rugby is an English professional rugby union club that is based in the city of Bath. They play in the Aviva Premiership league...
Pete Smith from
Northern SuburbsNorthern Suburbs RFC
Northern Suburbs Rugby Football Club is a rugby union club in Sydney, Australia, that was formed in 1900 from the merger of the Pirates and Wallaroos clubs. The club competes in the Shute Shield and Tooheys New Cup competitions run by the New South Wales Rugby Union.The club has produced 42 Wallaby...
Hanno Dirksen
Out
James HookJames Hook (rugby player)
James William Hook is a Welsh rugby union player for USA Perpignan. Hook is widely regarded as one of the most talented players in world rugby....
to
PerpignanUSA Perpignan
Union Sportive des Arlequins Perpignanais or Unió eSportiva Arlequins de Perpinyà , generally abbreviated as USAP in both languages, is a French rugby union club that plays in the city of Perpignan in Pyrénées-Orientales. The club currently competes in the Top 14, the top level of the French...
Lee Byrne
Lee Byrne
Lee Martin Byrne is a Welsh international rugby union rugby player, who plays for ASM Clermont Auvergne in the Top 14 and Heineken Cup...
to
ClermontASM Clermont Auvergne
Association Sportive Montferrandaise Clermont Auvergne are a French rugby union club from Clermont-Ferrand in Auvergne that currently competes in Top 14, the top level of the French league system, ASMCA are the were the 2010 France Top 14 Champions. It is the rugby section of the multi-sport club...
Mike Phillips
Mike Phillips (rugby player)
William Michael "Mike" Phillips is a Welsh international rugby union rugby player who plays at scrum-half for Bayonne.-Personal life:...
to
BayonneAviron Bayonnais
Aviron Bayonnais is a French rugby union club from Bayonne in Pyrénées-Atlantiques that currently competes in the top level of the French league system, in the Top 14 competition...
Jerry Collins
Jerry Collins
Jerry Collins is a New Zealand rugby union footballer who formerly played for the national team, the All Blacks in which he was capped 48 times. He now plays for Yamaha Jubilo, in Japanese Top league rugby.-Early career:...
to
Yamaha JúbiloYamaha Jubilo
Yamaha Jubilo is a rugby union team based in Iwata, Shizuoka. The team came second behind Toshiba Brave Lupus in the second season of Japanese rugby's Top League...
Jamie Nutbrown
Jamie Nutbrown
Jamie Nutbrown , is a Half-back/Scrum Half for the Ospreys Rugby Union club in Wales, who compete in the Magners League....
to
Bay of PlentyBay of Plenty Steamers
The Bay of Plenty Steamers are the top representative team under the Bay of Plenty Rugby Union in New Zealand. They compete in the ITM Cup. They have a total of 20 All Blacks, the latest being Tanerau Latimer in 2009...
Craig Mitchell
Craig Mitchell (rugby player)
Craig Mitchell is a Wales international rugby union player for the Exeter Chiefs in the Aviva Premiership his signing was confirmed on March 23, 2011 by Aviva Premiership side Exeter Chiefs as he signed a two year contract....
to
ExeterExeter Chiefs
Exeter Rugby Club are a rugby union club based in Exeter, Devon.The Exeter club was formed around 1871 and played its first match in 1873. The first team has been rebranded as the Exeter Chiefs and play in a strip of Black , White ....
Marty Holah
Marty Holah
Martin Rowan "Marty" Holah is a New Zealand rugby union player, who has played for Welsh regional side Ospreys, the Waikato provincial team and the Chiefs Super 14 rugby franchise. Holah was capped in 36 international test matches for the New Zealand national team, the All Blacks...
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WaikatoWaikato Rugby Union
The Waikato Rugby Union is the official governing body of rugby union in the Waikato area in the North Island of New Zealand. Its senior representative team competes in the ITM Cup , and won the inaugural Air New Zealand Cup in 2006.Waikato Rugby Union was founded in 1921...
Jonathan Spratt
Jonathan Spratt
Jonathan Spratt is a Welsh international rugby union player. A centre, he made his debut for the Wales national rugby union team 30 May 2009 versus Canada as a second-half substitute...
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London IrishLondon Irish
London Irish RFC is an English rugby union club based in Sunbury, Surrey, where the senior squad train, the youth teams and senior academy play home games, and the club maintain their administrative offices. The senior squad play home games at the Madejski Stadium in Reading and compete in the top...
Matthew Jarvis to Connacht
Connacht Rugby
Connacht Rugby is an Irish professional rugby union team based in Connacht that competes in the RaboDirect Pro12 comprising teams from the Celtic nations plus Italy. Normally, it also competes in the second-tier pan-European club competition, the European Challenge Cup...
Rory Pitman to
Glasgow WarriorsGlasgow Warriors
The Glasgow Warriors, formerly Glasgow Rugby, are one of two professional rugby union teams in Scotland, Edinburgh being the other. They play in the RaboDirect Pro12 and their home ground is Firhill Stadium, also the home of Partick Thistle Football Club.-History:Glasgow Rugby were created to...
on Loan Andy Lloyd
Andy Lloyd (rugby player)
Andrew Mark "Andy" Lloyd is a Welsh International Rugby Union player. Currently, he plays for the Ospreys region in the Magners League. He can play back row or 2nd row....
to Ospreys management team Ben Lewis
Ben Lewis (rugby player)
Ben Lewis born 26 August 1986 in Swansea, Wales is a rugby union player for the Ospreys in the Magners League.Ben Lewis' position of choice is as a flanker.-External links:*...
retired due to injury Conor McInerney retired due to injury
British and Irish Lions
The following players were selected for the British and Irish LionsBritish and Irish Lions
The British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales...
touring squads while playing for the Ospreys. Brent Cockbain
Brent Cockbain
Brent John Cockbain is a rugby union player who played lock for Sale Sharks in the English Guinness Premiership, and has won 20 caps for Wales.-Club career:...
2005 Gavin Henson
Gavin Henson
Gavin Lloyd Henson is a Welsh rugby union player, born in Pencoed, South Wales, currently playing for Cardiff Blues.He attracted much media attention as part of a Wales national team which achieved Grand Slams in the Six Nations Championship in 2005 and 2008...
2005 Ryan Jones
Ryan Jones
Ryan Paul Jones is a Welsh international rugby union player who plays at number eight for the Ospreys. He is able to cover blindside flanker and second row; he played second row in his younger days as he was kept out of his preferred number 8 role by Gareth Delve.-Early life:Jones played junior...
2005, 2009 Shane Williams
Shane Williams
Shane Mark Williams is a Welsh international rugby union player who plays as a wing for the Ospreys and who can also play scrum-half. Williams is the record try scorer for the Wales national team and he is third on the international list of leading Rugby union Test try scorers behind Daisuke Ohata...
2005, 2009 Tommy Bowe
Tommy Bowe
Thomas John "Tommy" Bowe is an Irish rugby union footballer from County Monaghan, Ireland...
2009 Lee Byrne
Lee Byrne
Lee Martin Byrne is a Welsh international rugby union rugby player, who plays for ASM Clermont Auvergne in the Top 14 and Heineken Cup...
2009 Adam Jones
Adam Rhys Jones
Adam Rhys Jones is a Welsh international rugby union player, currently playing for the Ospreys in the RaboDirect Pro12. His usual position is at tighthead prop...
2009 Alun Wyn Jones
Alun Wyn Jones
Alun Wyn Jones is a Welsh international rugby union rugby player, currently playing for the Ospreys in the Celtic League. Having previously represented Wales at under-21 level, he made his Test debut for Wales in June 2006 against Argentina. Originally playing as a blindside flanker, he has shown...
2009 Mike Phillips
Mike Phillips (rugby player)
William Michael "Mike" Phillips is a Welsh international rugby union rugby player who plays at scrum-half for Bayonne.-Personal life:...
2009 James Hook
James Hook (rugby player)
James William Hook is a Welsh rugby union player for USA Perpignan. Hook is widely regarded as one of the most talented players in world rugby....
2009
Notable former players
Celtic League
| Season | Pos | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Bonus | Points | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003–04 2003-04 Celtic League -Week 2:-Week 3:-Week4:-Week 5:-Week 6:-Week 7:-Week 8:-Week 9:-Week 10:-Week 11:-Week 12:-Week 13:... |
5th | 22 | 11 | 1 | 10 | 9 | 55 | |
| 2004–05 2004-05 Celtic League -Week 4:-Week 5:-Week 6:-Week 7:-Week 8:-Week 9:-Week 10:-Week 11:-Week 12:-Week 13:-Week 14:-Week 15:-Week 16:... |
1st | 20 | 16 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 76 | |
| 2005–06 2005-06 Celtic League The 2005-06 Celtic League was the third season of the Celtic League since the inception of regional rugby union in Wales. Eleven teams, from three countries participated. The final table was dominated by the Irish, with the top three spots taken by Ulster, Leinster and Munster respectively... |
7th | 22* | 11 | 0 | 9 | 3 | 55 | |
| 2006–07 | 1st | 20 | 14 | 0 | 6 | 8 | 64 | |
| 2007–08 | 7th | 18 | 6 | 1 | 11 | 11 | 37 | |
| 2008–09 | 4th | 18 | 11 | 0 | 7 | 8 | 52 | |
| 2009–10 | 2nd | 18 | 13 | 0 | 5 | 6 | 52 | |
| Semi-final | Ospreys 20 – 15 Glasgow Warriors Glasgow Warriors The Glasgow Warriors, formerly Glasgow Rugby, are one of two professional rugby union teams in Scotland, Edinburgh being the other. They play in the RaboDirect Pro12 and their home ground is Firhill Stadium, also the home of Partick Thistle Football Club.-History:Glasgow Rugby were created to... |
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| Grand Final | Leinster Leinster Rugby Leinster Rugby, usually referred to simply as Leinster, is an Irish professional rugby union team based in Dublin, representing the Irish province of Leinster, that competes in the RaboDirect Pro 12 and also competes in the Heineken Cup... 12 – 17 Ospreys |
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Celtic Cup
| Season | Round | Match |
|---|---|---|
| 2003–04 | 1st | Leinster Lions 35 – 21 Neath-Swansea Ospreys |
Heineken Cup
| Season | Pool/Round | Pos | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Bonus | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003–04 2003-04 Heineken Cup The 2003-4 Heineken Cup was the ninth season for which European teams competed for the Heineken Cup. Competing teams, from England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales, were divided into six pools of four, in which teams played home and away matches against each other... |
Pool 2 | 4th | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 4 |
| 2004–05 2004-05 Heineken Cup The 2004-5 Heineken Cup was the tenth edition of the Heineken Cup. Competing teams, from England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales, were divided into six pools of four, in which teams played home and away matches against each other... |
Pool 4 | 3rd | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 14 |
| 2005–06 2005-06 Heineken Cup The 2005–06 Heineken Cup was the eleventh edition of the European Heineken Cup rugby union club tournament. 24 teams from 7 different countries took part, with the opening game played on Friday October 21, 2005... |
Pool 4 | 3rd | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 9 |
| 2006–07 2006-07 Heineken Cup The 2006–07 Heineken Cup was the 12th edition of the European Heineken Cup rugby union club tournament. The pool draw took place on 21 June at Twickenham. The pool stages started on 20 October and concluded in January, going for six rounds... |
Pool 3 | 2nd | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 20 |
| 2007–08 2007-08 Heineken Cup The 2007–08 Heineken Cup was the 13th edition of the Heineken Cup, the annual rugby union European club competition for clubs from the top six nations in European rugby.The start of the tournament was delayed because of the 2007 Rugby World Cup... |
Pool 2 | 2nd | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 21 |
| Quarter-final | Saracens Saracens F.C. Saracens are a professional rugby union team based in St. Albans, England – although they play their home games at Vicarage Road, in Watford. They are currently members of the Aviva Premiership, the top level of domestic rugby union in England... 19 – 10 Ospreys |
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| 2008–09 2008-09 Heineken Cup The 2008–09 Heineken Cup was the fourteenth edition of the Heineken Cup, the annual rugby union European club competition for clubs from the top six nations in European rugby. It started in October 2008 and ended on 23 May 2009 at Murrayfield in Edinburgh... |
Pool 3 | 2nd | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 20 |
| Quarter-final | Munster Munster Rugby Munster Rugby is an Irish professional rugby union team based in Munster, that competes in the RaboDirect Pro12 and Heineken Cup.The team represents the Irish Rugby Football Union Munster Branch which is one of four primary branches of the IRFU, and is responsible for rugby union in the Irish... 43 – 9 Ospreys |
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| 2009–10 | Pool 3 | 2nd | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 20 |
| Quarter-final | Biarritz Biarritz Olympique Biarritz Olympique Pays Basque is a French professional rugby union team based in the Basque city of Biarritz, Aquitaine which competes in the Top 14 and the Heineken Cup... 29 – 28 Ospreys |
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Anglo-Welsh Cup
| Season | Group/Round | Pos | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Bonus | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005–06 2005-06 Powergen Cup The 2005-06 Powergen Cup was the 35th annual rugby union cup competition in England. Originally contested between clubs of the English leagues, this was the first season for which the competition was open to the Welsh regions, forming the Anglo-Welsh Cup. The cup is contested between the twelve... |
Group A | 3rd | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
| 2006–07 2006-07 EDF Energy Cup The 2006–07 EDF Energy Cup marked the 36th season of the English Rugby Union cup competition. It was the second season under the new Anglo-Welsh format and the first with EDF Energy as title sponsor... |
Group A | 1st | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 14 |
| Semi-final | Ospreys 27 – 10 Cardiff Blues Cardiff Blues Cardiff Blues are one of the four professional Welsh regional rugby union teams. Based in Cardiff, the capital of Wales, the team have played at Cardiff City Stadium since the start of the 2009/2010 season and are owned by Cardiff Rugby Football Club.... |
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| Final | Leicester Tigers Leicester Tigers Leicester Tigers is an English rugby union club that plays in the Aviva Premiership.Leicester are the most successful English club since the introduction of league rugby in 1987, a record 9 times English champions - 3 more than either Bath or Wasps, the last of which was in 2010... 41 – 35 Ospreys |
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| 2007–08 2007-08 EDF Energy Cup The 2007–08 EDF Energy Cup was the 37th season of England's national rugby union cup competition, and the third to follow the recently adopted Anglo-Welsh format.... |
Group C | 1st | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 14 |
| Semi-final | Ospreys 30 – 3 Saracens Saracens F.C. Saracens are a professional rugby union team based in St. Albans, England – although they play their home games at Vicarage Road, in Watford. They are currently members of the Aviva Premiership, the top level of domestic rugby union in England... |
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| Final | Ospreys 23 – 6 Leicester Tigers Leicester Tigers Leicester Tigers is an English rugby union club that plays in the Aviva Premiership.Leicester are the most successful English club since the introduction of league rugby in 1987, a record 9 times English champions - 3 more than either Bath or Wasps, the last of which was in 2010... |
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Club honours
- Celtic (Magners) League – 2004/05, 2006/07, 2009/10
- EDF Energy Cup – 2007/08
See also
- Ospreys under 20s
- Celtic LeagueCeltic League (rugby union)The Celtic League is an annual rugby union competition involving professional sides from Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales....
- EDF Energy CupEDF Energy CupThe Anglo-Welsh Cup, currently known for sponsorship reasons as the LV Cup , is an English and Welsh rugby union knock-out cup competition featuring the twelve Aviva Premiership clubs and four Welsh Regions...
- Heineken CupHeineken CupThe Heineken Cup is one of two annual rugby union competitions organised by European Rugby Cup involving leading club, regional and provincial teams from the six International Rugby Board countries in Europe whose national teams compete in the Six Nations Championship: England, France, Ireland,...
- European Challenge CupEuropean Challenge CupThe European Challenge Cup, currently known for sponsorship reasons as the Amlin Challenge Cup, is one of two annual rugby union competitions organised by European Rugby Cup. The cup was known as the Parker Pen Shield from 2001 to 2003 and Parker Pen Challenge Cup from 2003 to 2005. The European...
- npower (UK)Npower (UK)RWE Npower plc is a UK-based electricity and gas supply generation company, formerly known as Innogy plc. As Innogy plc it was listed on the London Stock Exchange and was a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index...