As Swansea City prepare for next week's npower Championship play-off final at Wembley Stadium, the Ospreys have thrown their support behind their Liberty Stadium colleagues bid to secure a place in the Barclays Premier League.
The Swans face Reading on Monday 30th May in a winner takes all clash with a place in the top flight at stake, and bosses at the region have sent their best wishes to manager Brendan Rogers and his players in the build-up to the big match.
Ospreys Managing Director, Roger Blyth, said:
“Everybody at the Ospreys is one hundred per cent behind the Swans in their push for Premier League football, and we will all be supporting next week. They have earned their place in the final with some outstanding performances this season, and deserve their place at Wembley.
“Swansea is a sports mad city, and to have Premiership football and Wales’ leading rugby region playing out of the Liberty Stadium will be something wonderful that all sports mad people in the region will be able to gain great satisfaction from. It will be excellent news for the whole community, who take real pride in the success of our sporting teams.
“As partners at the Liberty Stadium, we have a first class working relationship with the Swans, and the continued success of both teams is mutually beneficial to all parties involved, including Swansea Stadium Management Company.
“It’s going to be a tense and nervy afternoon, I’ve no doubt about that, but we wish the Swans the very best of luck and hopefully, they will return home next Monday night as a Premier League team.”
There are a number of Swans fans in the Ospreys ranks, many of whom were present at the Liberty Stadium for last week’s nailbiting semi-final win over Nottingham Forest, including Head Coach Sean Holley, captain Alun Wyn Jones, and leading international players such as Huw Bennett, Ryan Jones, Ian Gough, Jonathan Thomas and Jerry Collins.
Speaking about the Swans hopes of reaching the Premiership, Holley commented:
“Like everybody else in the region, I’ve got everything crossed for a Swans win at Wembley. I’ve been at the Liberty Stadium for a few games this season, and last Monday’s game against Nottingham Forest was incredible. There was a great atmosphere and a brilliant performance, and I’m hopeful for a Swans win at Wembley.”
Skipper Alun Wyn Jones added:
“I’d like to wish the Swans the very best of luck for Monday, from all the players at the Ospreys. For them to achieve Premier League status would be a great achievement.
“Some of us were at the Forest game, where we were impressed by both the way the team played, and the atmosphere generated by the Swans fans. We were made to feel very welcome into their community, which was excellent, and we all thoroughly enjoyed being part of a great occasion for the club and for the city of Swansea.
“Like myself, most of the squad are local boys, so we know how much sporting success means to people here, and like everyone else, would love the Swans to reach the Premiership. We’ll definitely be supporting them again next Monday.”