London Welsh anger at block on promotion
LONDON Welsh chiefs have hit back at the Rugby Football Union after learning their promotion bid is doomed to failure even if they win the Championship play-off.
The RFU ruled yesterday that the Exiles do not meet Premiership criteria regarding stadia, as their home, Old Deer Park, is inadequate and plans to play at Oxford United’s Kassam Stadium are not sufficiently robust. London Welsh directors responded by declaring their “grave disappointment”, insisting they do have so-called primacy of tenure over the Kassam and arguing that clubs such as Wasps had similar arrangements.
“It is not clear why an exception made in the case of at least four top flight clubs (a third of the total) might not now be extended to a fifth,” directors said in a statement.
London Welsh won the play-off first leg 37-21 in Cornwall last night. The ruling means Newcastle will stay in the Premiership despite finishing bottom, pending any appeal by London Welsh, as Cornish Pirates have not applied to join.