Six Nations: Dewi Lake urges Wales players to unite during domestic challenges
Wales captain Dewi Lake has referred to the Six Nations as a “welcome distraction” for Steve Tandy’s struggling squad amid the ongoing challenges in Welsh rugby.
The lead-up to the tournament for Wales has been clouded by the announcement that Ospreys owners Y11 Sport and Media have been selected as the preferred bidder by the Welsh Rugby Union to acquire domestic rivals Cardiff, who entered administration in April 2025.
If the acquisition is finalized, Ospreys and Cardiff will remain distinct teams but will be under the ownership of a single entity.
However, the outlook appears grim for Ospreys, who have only secured playing guarantees until the conclusion of the 2026-27 season, with the WRU aiming to decrease the number of men’s professional regions from four to three.
Lake has opted to depart Ospreys for Gloucester at the season’s end, but the 26-year-old hooker is among seven players from the Swansea-based club included in the Wales squad preparing to commence their Six Nations campaign against England on Feb. 7.
“It’s obviously a challenging situation for everyone to learn about the takeover this week,” Lake told reporters at the Guinness Six Nations launch in Edinburgh.
“It likely serves as a welcome distraction, allowing you to immerse yourself in matches or analyze the opposition for the upcoming weekend.
“Having the chance to step onto the field and represent your country in one of the premier competitions globally will certainly help divert your attention from off-field matters.
“It’s also significant motivation for us. The off-field situation impacts everyone in our group. Events like this can only strengthen our unity and bring us closer together.”
Supporters demonstrated against the WRU and Y11’s plans during Ospreys and Cardiff’s United Rugby Championship matches over the weekend.
Both groups of fans illuminated their phones to show their disapproval of the proposed takeover, and Ospreys head coach Mark Jones commended his region’s supporters for “demonstrating solidarity.”
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When asked about the challenges of his captaincy during the Six Nations, Lake stated: “There’s not much management required regarding how the players cope with situations like this, as it’s quite personal.
“It’s about instability; players have families and handle things in various ways. My only focus will be ensuring that when game time arrives, everyone is fully engaged. The group and environment we’ve cultivated will manage themselves, and I don’t anticipate any significant lingering effects.”
Head coach Tandy commended the mindset of his players as Wales seeks to recover from two consecutive winless Six Nations campaigns.
“The boys have been exceptional. During the autumn, there were additional factors at play, but for me, it has been about communicating openly with the players,” Tandy remarked.
“If they have something to express, rather than letting it be an elephant in the room with no discussion, we encourage them to speak up.”
