London Welsh’s appeal against the RFU’s decision to block their promotion to the Aviva Premiership has been delayed by a week.

The case will now be heard on June 28 by an independent panel of James Dingemans QC (chairman), Ian Mill QC and Tim Ward QC at a venue yet to be confirmed.

The Exiles, who want to play their matches at the Kassam Stadium in Oxford, won this season’s Championship after beating Cornish Pirates in both legs of the final, the second 29-20 at the Kassam.

But the Richmond-based club have been told they did not meet minimum standards criteria set down by English rugby’s Professional Game Board for entry to the Premiership, even though other Premiership clubs such as London Irish and Saracens play at Football League grounds.

Should London Welsh succeed in overturning an original decision that went against them, then they will go up and Newcastle Falcons be relegated.