New Ospreys chairman hits out at Wales' Professional Rugby Board

Incoming Ospreys chairman Rob Davies has turned up the heat amid Welsh rugby's volcanic domestic climate by fiercely criticising Wales' Professional Rugby Board.

The Scarlets said on Wednesday that any planned merger with their Welsh regional rivals Ospreys is "off the table", while Davies also confirmed such a proposal was "dead" and that the "clock is ticking."

Discussions now appear deadlocked over so-called Project Reset.In a statement released by the Ospreys, Davies, who takes over from James, said: "There are three stark realities.

"Firstly, the concept of an Ospreys-Scarlets merger is dead and the clock is ticking.

"Secondly, Wales was promised a comprehensive review with nothing off the table, but nothing has yet been put on the table.

"Thirdly, the PRB cynically left it to the regions to have a shoot-out for survival with the clear direction that a region in the west should go and make room for a fourth in the north. We are now where we are as a result."

The Scarlets said a head of terms agreement was signed by the Ospreys and Scarlets on March 1 but they were told at a meeting with Wales' Professional Game Board (PRB) yesterday that the 'Ospreys had changed their mind.'

• Read more: Osprey-Scarlets merger being discussed in 'radical' shake-up of Welsh regional rugby

The Scarlets confirmed that the proposed merger was driven by the regions, revealing they received "a high-level approach" from the Ospreys about it in late December.

After discussions broke down, the Scarlets say they were approached by the Ospreys again last week.

The Scarlets and Ospreys were expected to join forces under that plan, together with a new professional team being formed in north Wales, alongside existing Welsh regions Cardiff Blues and the Dragons, in Welsh rugby's biggest domestic shake-up since the inception of regional sides 16 years ago.

Wales' PRB comprises representatives from the Welsh Rugby Union, Scarlets, Ospreys, Dragons and Cardiff Blues.

Scores of Welsh professional players' immediate futures are in limbo, with Wales' Professional Rugby Board (PRB) hoping to have thrashed out a proposal for the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) board.

But yesterday the Ospreys released a strongly-worded statement claiming they were not on the verge of merging with the Scarlets.

The PRB responded saying it had expected to finalise "a comprehensive proposal" at its meeting for the WRU board to consider.

But it added: "A central component of the proposal was a merger between the Scarlets and Ospreys. The PRB were advised Heads of Terms for the merger had been reached between the two regions on Friday, March 1.

"The PRB would like to make clear that the statements issued today by the Ospreys do not reconcile with the minuted meetings, actions and documented agreements that have taken place to date," the statement read.

The PRB statement was issued on behalf of its voting members - WRU chief executive Martyn Phillips, independent chair David Lovett, WRU group finance director Steve Phillips, Dragons chairman Davd Buttress, Scarlets chairman Nigel Short and Blues chairman Alun Jones.