Cardiff Rugby coach Corniel Van Zyl has expressed confidence that the Arms Park side is “in a very good space” to retain its key players, even as Welsh professional rugby faces a period of major upheaval. The remarks come after the Ospreys lost Wales captains Jac Morgan and Dewi Lake to Gloucester, highlighting the ongoing challenges in keeping top talent in Wales.

Context: Welsh Rugby Restructure

Welsh rugby is preparing for a reduction in professional clubs from four to three by 2027, prompting uncertainty across the regions. Plans currently indicate one team in Cardiff, one in the east, and one in the west, setting up a potential struggle for survival between Ospreys and Scarlets in the west.

Against this backdrop, over 80 Wales-based players are out of contract at the end of the season, creating a difficult environment for clubs trying to secure their squads. Cardiff, currently owned by the WRU, is working to provide certainty to players to retain talent, particularly high-profile internationals such as Josh Adams and Taulupe Faletau, whose contracts are due to expire.

Cardiff’s Retention Strategy

Van Zyl highlighted the importance of providing clarity and stability during uncertain times:

“Not to get too far ahead of ourselves, it’s really positive in terms of trying to keep hold of the players we currently have. Retention is the most important thing—to hold onto the players that we currently have, and that is really positive at the moment.”

The coach emphasized that giving players certainty, even temporarily, is crucial to maintaining squad cohesion while the broader Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) restructure unfolds.

Ospreys’ Losses and Implications

Morgan and Lake, both influential figures for Wales and the Ospreys, will depart for Gloucester at the end of the season due to uncertainty surrounding Welsh rugby’s future. Scarlets head coach Dwayne Peel expressed disappointment at their exits:

“From a Welsh rugby perspective, it is disappointing to see it. Once clarity is provided, it will be crucial to retain the best players in Wales.”

Peel and Van Zyl agree that providing stability and clarity to players is the most effective way to prevent further departures from Welsh regions.

Cardiff’s Focus Ahead

Cardiff’s immediate challenge is to retain key internationals while continuing to compete in the United Rugby Championship (URC). The club hosts Scarlets on 19 December 2025 at 19:45 GMT, a match that will test the squad’s resilience and readiness amid ongoing contract negotiations and uncertainty.

Van Zyl added:

“We are in a very good space, and I just believe we need to give people certainty when there is uncertainty with everything that is going around. We will wait and see what happens going forward, but at least for the next few months or year they will have certainty and we will see then what the future holds.”

Wider Implications for Welsh Rugby

The ongoing contraction of professional clubs in Wales and high-profile player moves raise questions about retaining Welsh talent domestically. Clubs are being forced to balance short-term competitiveness with long-term planning, ensuring that the best players remain within Wales while navigating uncertainty caused by WRU restructuring.

Both Cardiff and Scarlets aim to retain the core of their squads to remain competitive in the URC and contribute to the success of Welsh rugby at the international level.