Bradley Davies has signed for the Ospreys for next season on a three-year dual contract with the Welsh Rugby Union. The Wales second row – who was also wanted by the Cardiff Blues – will end the current Aviva Premiership play-off campaign with current club Wasps and then return to Wales.

Former Wales forward Gareth Delve has been released by the Ospreys halfway through his two-year contract. The region have cut their losses after the 33-year-old managed just two games in the Guinness Pro 12 this season following persistent injury problems.

England rugby chief Ian Ritchie has hinted they may try to get Sam Underhill out of his Ospreys contract in order to cap him. RFU chief executive Ritchie has vowed England “will come up with a solution” to select flanker Underhill inside Eddie Jones’ six-month stated timescale.

Sam Davies salvaged some pride for the Welsh teams, but the Guinness Pro12 awards were an accurate gauge of the demise of regional rugby this season. Despite the healthy signs of a bumper crowd of 65,000 for the Judgement Day matches, the on-field failings were reflected in the selection of Davies as the only Welsh player to make the composite team of the season.

The Ospreys still believe they can avoid leaving Europe next season – whatever the outcome of the UK referendum. Wales’ most successful region have never fallen out of Europe’s premier tournament, but unless they beat Ulster at home on Saturday in the final round of the regular Guinness Pro12 season, they will not be in the European Champions Cup for 2016-17.

Rhys Webb can be the Ospreys general who continues their battlefield dominance over the Cardiff Blues, according to his coach. Steve Tandy believes Webb’s recent elevation to captain will be a decisive factor in Saturday’s Judgement Day clash at the Principality Stadium.

Justin Tpiruc has been ruled out of Wales’ summer tour to New Zealand because of the concussion he suffered at the end of the Six Nations. The Ospreys flanker has been told he still needs three more months on the sidelines – an absence which will also end any suggestions he could have made the Great Britain Sevens team at this year’s Olympics.

Dan Lydiate has questioned the desire of his Ospreys teammates as they rake over the ashes of their Guinness Pro12 campaign. The Wales flanker has admitted the Scarlets showed more fight in the weekend derby at the Liberty Stadium – enabling them to make off with a 25-16 victory that all but snuffs out the dying flames of the Ospreys’ European Champions Cup hopes.

The Ospreys believe Alun Wyn Jones could be out injured for just three weeks – and not the six suggested by Wales coach Warren Gatland. Jones missed the final match of the Six Nations because of a foot injury which Gatland revealed his second row had been carrying for some time.

Ospreys head coach Steve Tandy has admitted the region will not make the Pro12 play-offs this season and the best they can hope for is a top six finish and European Champions Cup qualification. A narrow 19-16 defeat away at Leinster at the weekend means the four-times winners of the tournament are now 12 points adrift of fourth sport, currently occupied by Ulster, with just five matches left.

Wales prop Aaron Jarvis is leaving the Ospreys for French giants Clermont Auvergne. The tight-head, who has won 16 caps, will move on at the end of the season and will become the latest current international to try his luck in the lucrative Top14.

The Ospreys have announced an annual profit for the first time in nine years. The region declared a profit before exceptional items and interest charges of £143,498 in 2014/15 – a positive end of year figure for the first time since 2007.