London Irish has been suspended from the Premiership after the club missed a deadline to pay players and staff.
The financially stricken club had been given an extended deadline that ran until Tuesday 6th June to complete a takeover or risk being suspended. With a sale failing to materialise, London Irish will not be allowed to play in any league next season.
A US consortium had supposedly in talks to buy Irish, but a statement from the Rugby Football Union (RFU), confirmed that it did not complete the takeover within the allotted time and Irish’s current owner, Mick Crossan, failed to prove he had the finances to sustain the club.
“This is desperately sad news for everyone who is part of the London Irish community as well as all the players, fans, staff and volunteers for whom this club means so much.”
BILL SWEENEY, RFU CHIEF EXECUTIVE
The club is £30m in debt and last year Crossan said he would sell Irish for £1 if he could.
The fall of London Irish, which finished fifth in the Premiership during the most recent 2022-23 season, underlines the ongoing financial issues engulfing English rugby union following Worcester Warriors and Wasp’s similar fates.
Despite plans announced in 2021 to expand its top division to 14 teams, English rugby now faces the prospect of a 10-team Premiership next season.
RFU Chief Executive Bill Sweeney, commented, “This is desperately sad news for everyone who is part of the London Irish community as well as all the players, fans, staff and volunteers for whom this club means so much.”
Sweeney said the RFU had worked with the club, Premiership Rugby and the Rugby Players’ Association to “do the utmost to secure the long-term viability of the club”.
“To achieve this, it was imperative that transparent evidence of funding be presented to us,” he added.
“This would have been either by the proposed buyers undertaking to provide all required working capital to meet the club’s obligations for at least the 2023-24 season; or the club providing evidence that it would continue to fund its operations throughout the 2023-24 season.
“Despite requesting this evidence over the last six months and receiving assurances on multiple occasions that we would receive proof of ownership and funds; it has not materialised.”
