Newcastle Falcons Stay in Premiership as London Welsh & Cornish Pirates Denied Entry

May 23, 2012

English Rugby club, London Welsh, push for promotion has been halted after the RFU concluded their ground was not up to standard.
The English club which was prominent in 1960s and 70s, will not be promoted to the Premiership along with their playoff rivals Cornish Pirates.
In a statement, the RFU directors said: “The Rugby Football Union’s board of directors has considered the findings of the independent audit report requested by London Welsh, which determines a club’s eligibility for promotion to the Aviva Premiership in line with the minimum standards criteria (MSC).
“The report found that London Welsh has not met the MSC for the Aviva Premiership. The independent auditors identified various failures, including not having primacy of tenure at their nominated ground. This states that a club must demonstrate that they can host home fixtures at the time stipulated by Premiership Rugby and/or the host broadcaster.
“The RFU board ratified the findings and agreed, should London Welsh win the RFU Championship final following the second leg on 30 May, they would not be eligible for promotion and Newcastle Falcons would remain in the Aviva Premiership.
“Cornish Pirates did not choose to have an independent audit of the Mennaye Field and so do not fulfil the criteria for promotion should they win the final. As a result, there will be no promotion from the RFU Championship this season.”
The main problem for Welsh, who are based in west London, is their ground has only one small stand and is barely good enough for championship rugby.
Welsh, who were formed in 1885 and who supplied seven players to a British Lions tour in 1971, have 14 days to appeal against the decision.

English Rugby club, London Welsh, push for promotion has been halted after the RFU concluded their ground was not up to standard.

The English club which was prominent in 1960s and 70s, will not be promoted to the Premiership along with their playoff rivals Cornish Pirates.

In a statement, the RFU directors said: “The Rugby Football Union’s board of directors has considered the findings of the independent audit report requested by London Welsh, which determines a club’s eligibility for promotion to the Aviva Premiership in line with the minimum standards criteria (MSC).

“The report found that London Welsh has not met the MSC for the Aviva Premiership. The independent auditors identified various failures, including not having primacy of tenure at their nominated ground. This states that a club must demonstrate that they can host home fixtures at the time stipulated by Premiership Rugby and/or the host broadcaster.

“The RFU board ratified the findings and agreed, should London Welsh win the RFU Championship final following the second leg on 30 May, they would not be eligible for promotion and Newcastle Falcons would remain in the Aviva Premiership.

“Cornish Pirates did not choose to have an independent audit of the Mennaye Field and so do not fulfil the criteria for promotion should they win the final. As a result, there will be no promotion from the RFU Championship this season.”

The main problem for Welsh, who are based in west London, is their ground has only one small stand and is barely good enough for championship rugby.

Welsh, who were formed in 1885 and who supplied seven players to a British Lions tour in 1971, have 14 days to appeal against the decision.