Former Ospreys coach Sean Holley has described the Welsh region taking this weekend’s BKT URC clash with the Hollywoodbets Sharks to London as “a fantastic initiative”.
The Round 3 fixture will be staged at the Twickenham Stoop, the home of Harlequins, on Friday night in a ground-breaking move.
“I am really looking forward to it. I will be working on the game,” said TV pundit Holley.
“When I was coaching the Ospreys back in 2004, we played Harlequins in the Heineken Cup at the Stoop.
“I will never forget Gavin Henson going through and scoring and two thirds of the ground got on its feet.
“I looked at my fellow coach Lyn Jones and went ‘My goodness, we have got a following in London’.
“I think the Ospreys, round about that period, were potentially looking at broadening their horizons in London.
It’s come to fruition now. Why? Well, maybe crowds back home are diminishing a little, so it’s an empty stadium a little bit in the Swansea.com.
“And obviously there are a lot of South Africans in London who would love to come along and see, dare I say, not just the Sharks, but the Ospreys as well.
“So I really welcome it. I think it’s a fantastic initiative. I’m looking forward to seeing how many turn up and to sampling a bit of boerewors and braai just before kick off!
“It’s keenly poised because the Sharks are yet to get a win while the Ospreys have stuttered a little bit. They got that win against Zebre, so it’s all to play for at the Stoop."
The Ospreys will make BKT United Rugby Championship history, hosting a home fixture against the Hollywoodbets Sharks on Friday 3rd November at the iconic Twickenham Stoop in London.
The match will kick off at 19:35pm and presents an unmissable chance for sports fans and rugby followers to watch the Ospreys take on South Africa’s Hollywoodbets Sharks with a new audience experiencing the BKT URC in person.
This is the first time a team from Wales will host a home league game in London, with the Ospreys carrying the torch for Welsh rugby, shining a new light on the tournament. Londoners, Sharks fans, rugby supporters and first-time watchers are all cordially invited to our London showcase, a testament to the game’s resilience, its vital role in bridging cultures, and its unique power to captivate audiences.
Tickets for this unmissable clash are available to purchase now.
