Ospreys ban tans, funky boots

London - Welsh rugby side Ospreys have banned players from having spray tans and wearing coloured boots as they attempt to shed their tag of being "Galacticos", it was reported on Thursday

The Daily Telegraph said Ospreys' management were seeking to use the departure of high-profile players Gavin Henson and James Hook to mark the start of a new era at the Swansea-based side.

"The fake tan and the coloured boots and the Galacticos label doesn't interest us really," Ospreys coach Sean Holley told the Telegraph.

"We've banned the tan. It's real tan only. And you are only allowed to wear coloured boots if you've played over 50 times for the Ospreys or over 15 times for your country.

"We feel that you have to earn the respect, you have to earn the right to do something.

"We want to work hard, we want to represent our region properly. We don't want to be false or misrepresented."

The sober approach appears to have reaped dividends for Ospreys so far this season - they have won six of their first seven Celtic League fixtures.