London Welsh chief Sonny Parker hits out at RFU over club’s expulsion from the Championship

Seeing red: London Welsh say they were not given enough time to brief their players
Jordan Mansfield/Getty Images

London Welsh have hit out at the RFU for the manner in which they expelled the club from the Championship.

Welsh were ordered to cease as a professional entity with immediate effect yesterday by being denied a permanent licence by the RFU. Since going into liquidation at the start of December, they had been able to meet their remaining playing commitments in the league with a temporary licence.

But after yesterday’s announcement, club team manager Sonny Parker said in a statement: “I cannot explain how upset I am that the RFU made public their decision before we had time to communicate to players and staff.”

And the 39-year-old, capped 31 times by Wales, added: “Rugby, for me, has always been about respect and dignity. Yesterday, I witnessed an unaccountable governing body execute a decision with no regard to those impacted and purely done through self-interest.

“I can live with the no licence but not allowing us time to speak to players and staff is unforgivable.”

In a statement today, the club said they were “extremely disappointed” by the decision. They added: “We have worked very closely with the RFU for a number of months to meet the criteria for a permanent licence, and the new company [Rugby 1885 Limited] believes that it did satisfy all of the conditions required in RFU Regulation 5 and the Insolvency Protocol.

“We will begin dealing with the ramifications of yesterday’s announcement, before deciding whether to respond further.”

The RFU announced their decision at 3pm, having first contacted officials at London Welsh before informing the club’s next opponents, Cornish Pirates, and the rest of the teams in rugby’s second flight.

Following Parker’s statement this morning, an RFU spokeswoman told Standard Sport: “When we informed London Welsh of the decision, we said we would have to announce the decision at 3pm. They had notice of that.

“We did this with a very heavy heart and we’re disappointed with the outcome but, under the regulations, this was the only alternative.”

London Welsh will be able to continue as an amateur side going forward but it is not clear where the future lies for a club set up in London’s Fleet Street in 1885.

The Rugby Players’ Association have been in close contact with the professional playing staff since the club first went into voluntary liquidation towards the beginning of last month.

A spokesman for the RPA said that “such discussions were still ongoing”. He added: “We have been in contact and offered legal support since before Christmas.

“We’re now trying to establish what this news means for the players. We’re trying to help around the legal implications wherever we can.”

As a result of London Welsh’s immediate expulsion from the Championship, there will be no relegation this season, a welcome boost to Richmond, who are bottom and six points shy of closest rivals Rotherham.

London Welsh’s inability to prove to the RFU that they had a sound financial future effectively brings the curtain down on a rich history at various locations around the capital.

Their heyday was undoubtedly in the 1960s and 1970s, when they had their own brand of rugby Galacticos, with Wales and British and Irish Lions internationals John Dawes, JPR Williams, Gerald Davies and John Taylor.

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