LONDON Welsh's plan to ground-share at the Kassam Stadium looks in doubt after an independent audit found the club did not meet the minimum standards for Premiership rugby.
The news is a huge blow to the Exiles, just hours before the first leg of their Championship play-off against Cornish Pirates this evening.
The Rugby Football Union's board agreed and ratified the findings of the audit, which means if London Welsh win the play-off they could not be promoted.
The statement read: "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."
London Welsh's chairman Bleddyn Phillips told the Oxford Mail last week: "There are a few things (in the audit) as you would expect, but let's just say the matters identified were ones I think we could address without much difficulty."
The club have 14 days to appeal the RFU's decision.
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