Ospreys players have been assured their futures are safe after being told a potential merger with Cardiff Rugby would not be happening.
Speculation has been rife following reports last week that discussions between the Ospreys' majority owners Y11 and Cardiff bosses were held.
The initial suggestion was that any attempts for Y11 to buy into Cardiff would have seen the two sides merge and play at the Arms Park, with the name 'Cardiff Ospreys' being a possibility.
The reports have been met with a defiant unnamed Ospreys source insisting in the Rugby Paper that there "have been conversations with Cardiff about trying to help them but they are in a very poor state", adding that any talks of a merger were "implausible".
Cardiff responded with a statement in which they also confirmed they had received approaches but would continue as Cardiff Rugby in their current home of the Arms Park.
WalesOnline understands that the Ospreys playing group were informed that their futures are secure over the weekend, following reports of exploratory talks on Friday night.
The players returned to pre-season training last week ahead of a lengthy training block building up to the new United Rugby Championship season in October.
The delay in the first instalment of payments in the new six-year funding framework have played a part in such talks taking place, given the financial pressure placed on the regions.
This isn't the first time the Ospreys have been linked with a merger. Earlier this year, there were reports of talks with English club Ealing Trailfinders, while a merger with west Wales rivals Scarlets was close in 2019.
