Shane’s so excited about the future for Ospreys

paul.abbandonato@walesonline.co.uk

WELSH rugby great Shane Williams has revealed his huge excitement for the future of the Ospreys just 14 months after they were about to be swallowed up by the Scarlets.

The proposed deal to merge the two arch-rivals and spell the end for the Ospreys fell through at the 11th hour, much to the relief of Liberty Stadium players and fans.

And wing wizard Shane, who made almost 150 appearances during a seven-year spell with the Ospreys, could scarcely contain his delight at a takeover deal which sees an Asian-based sports marketing company seize control.

The Y11 Sports & Media company have become the Ospreys’ major shareholders in what has been dubbed a multimillion pound package, with Shane saying: “What a turnaround for my old club.

“It hardly seems a year ago that we were talking about them possibly being taken over by either the Blues or the Scarlets. Yet now they are facing an altogether different future.

“I wonder what the Scarlets are thinking now, especially as the announcement came on the same day as they confirmed that Hadleigh Parkes was definitely leaving,” he wrote in a column for the Rugby Paper.

Williams does not expect a return to the Galactico days he starred in, but does see a “refresh, rebrand and relaunch of what has been a rather sad and tired looking business in recent years.”

He wrote: “On the field, with only two wins all season, it has been a tough time for the coaches, players and supporters. But I get the sense that things have definitely bottomed out, making this the perfect time to build upwards from ground zero.

“Alun Wyn Jones, Justin Tipuric and Rhys Webb have signed up for more, Gareth Anscombe will finally be able to make his debut after recovering from injury when rugby resumes and there are other Grand Slam stars in the squad in the shape of George North, Nicky Smith, Adam Beard, Scott Williams and Owen Watkin.

“The academy is still producing plenty of good talent and the players will be in the hands of a new, highly-respected head coach, Toby Booth, next season. And everything to do with the rugby will have the quality hand of Mike Ruddock guiding it.

“So why shouldn’t things get better? I’m excited about what might happen.

“The conversation has changed from doom and gloom to what might be possible. “