RUGBY UNION: D-day nigh for Exiles appeal (From The Oxford Times)

RUGBY UNION: D-day nigh for Exiles appeal

10:00am Thursday 7th June 2012 in Rugby By David Pritchard, Chief Sports Reporter covering Oxford United. Follow us on twitter: @oxfordmailoufc. Call me on 01865 425458

LONDON Welsh have until 4pm today to submit a formal appeal against a ruling preventing them from bringing Premiership rugby to the Kassam Stadium in Oxford next season.

A ruling from the Rugby Football Union (RFU) board of directors last month deemed the Exiles ineligible for promotion after they failed to meet the minimum standards criteria for top-flight rugby.

The deadline for submitting an appeal is this afternoon, and London Welsh have pledged to fight the decision all the way.

If the appeal goes ahead, it is understood they will have the choice of having their case heard by either a panel selected by the RFU’s disciplinary body, or by a completely external group.

A key factor centred on the club not having primacy of tenure in their proposed ground-share with Oxford United.

But London Welsh believe they have a strong case, pointing to Premiership clubs such as London Irish and Saracens, who operate under similar circumstances.

The team completed their task at the Kassam last week, beating Cornish Pirates 66-41 on aggregate to win the Championship.

Meanwhile the RFU have published next season’s Championship fixtures, with London Welsh included, while acknowledging it is subject to any appeal.