Ospreys flanker Sam Cross has said that the rumoured merger with Ealing Trailfinders would be "devastating" for everyone at the Welsh club. 

Speaking to BBC Wales' Scrum V Rugby podcast, Cross addressed the rumours that Ealing were set to join the United Rugby Championship following being denied promotion to the Gallagher Premiership for the second consecutive season. 

Wales Online reported last month that the Trailfinders were in discussions with the Welsh Rugby Union to join the United Rugby Championship to help out the league that was struggling financially, as well as finding a way to leave the RFU Championship after it became clear promotion was unlikely to ever happen. 

Cross told the podcast: "There's obviously a lot of people's livelihoods at stake, not just players," said 30-year-old Cross. 

"People we work with on a daily basis - staff members, people in the stadium, people in the community teams. It's bigger than just players. 

"Then for the fans. Speaking to fans, the Ospreys' supporters' club on the weekend, you could sense they are anxious and the stress caused by the rumours. It would be devastating." 

The Telegraph reported on 6th March that Ealing had changed the name of one of their companies, Conflict Limited, to London Trailfinders Rugby Limited on 27th February and owner Michael Gooley had taken control of that company 11 days after they were denied promotion. 

In the face of all of this speculation, Cross said that Ospreys players had been informed that the Trailfinders had approached a number of clubs. 

advertisement

He said: "What we have been told is that Ealing approached a number of clubs and the Ospreys were one of the clubs they approached. 

"But as for anything being agreed, we have been told there's no substance behind that. 

"The Ospreys have been Wales' most successful region, flying the flag in the Champions Cup this season, winners of the Welsh Shield last year. 

"And for the national squad, Ospreys have definitely been the best supplier of players. 

"I find it crazy that it's always the Ospreys that are linked with 'they are the region that has to go'. 

"It's the old 'they haven't got their own stadium, they haven't their own training base' - it's a never-ending cycle."