The Ospreys (Welsh: Y Gweilch), formerly the Neath-Swansea Ospreys, are one of four professional rugby union teams from Wales. They compete in the United Rugby Championship and the European Rugby Champions Cup. The team was created as a result of the combination of Neath RFC and Swansea RFC to create a new merger entity, as part of Welsh rugby's new regional structure, which began in 2003. They are also affiliated with a number of local semi-professional and amateur clubs. clubs including Welsh Premier Division clubs Aberavon RFC, Bridgend Ravens and original founding clubs Neath and Swansea. The regional area represented by the team has become commonly known for rugby purposes as 'Ospreylia'.