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Wales Online
Wales Online
Sport
Steffan Thomas & Ben James

Ospreys consider hosting some URC games in London

The Ospreys have considered playing a couple of home fixtures away from Swansea, with numerous venues in London having been discussed.

Toby Booth's side have three home matches in the United Rugby Championship with venues which have yet to be confirmed due to sharing their home ground with Championship football club Swansea City. The Welsh region have not yet confirmed where they will play South African sides the Sharks on November 3, and the Lions on March 30, along with their big derby against Cardiff on New Year's Day.

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The Swans have primacy of tenure at the Swansea.com Stadium, meaning Championship football takes precedence. WalesOnline understands Ospreys powerbrokers are exploring alternative venues both in south Wales, and across the bridge.

Playing fixtures in London has piqued their interest, with the Twickenham Stoop, home to Gallagher Premiership outfit Harlequins, one ground which has been mooted. Should they face the Sharks or the Lions in London they could tap into the area's strong South African population, and could potentially have an even bigger crowd than if they were to play the fixture in Swansea.

READ MORE: Full United Rugby Championship fixture list announced for 2023/24

Potentially this would come as a financial boost to the Welsh side, who are feeling the pinch like the other four regions as the professional game in this country enters a period of extreme austerity. But things are far from certain with the Ospreys considering all options.

The Ospreys have been working with Swansea University to redevelop St Helens while they are hopeful of announcing a significant new sponsor in the near future.

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