The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) has detailed its plan to reduce the number of professional men's rugby teams from four to three by the 2028-29 season. The new structure will feature one team in the capital, one in the east, and one in the west of Wales.

Cardiff Rugby, owned by the WRU, and the independently-backed Dragons RFC are expected to be offered licences for the capital and east regions, respectively. This leaves the Ospreys and the Scarlets to compete for the single west Wales licence. A merger between the two west Wales clubs is also being considered as a possibility.

The WRU announced that the process to establish the framework for this decision will commence in December and conclude before the end of the 2026-27 season. Stakeholders will meet after Wales' November matches to discuss financial proposals and licence interests, aiming for an orderly implementation and reduced uncertainty for all involved.