Rotherham promoted after club grounds fears allayed

ENGLISH First Division rugby union champions Rotherham have had their promotion to the Premiership confirmed, after an anxious wait for the Yorkshire club.

In a statement, England Rugby Limited (ERL), the joint Rugby Football Union and Premiership clubs body which runs the league, said: "The board of England Rugby Ltd has confirmed today that it has unanimously agreed that Rotherham rugby club has fully met the entry criteria and is therefore promoted to the Zurich Premiership for season 2003/04.

"The ERL board wishes to congratulate Rotherham, and wishes the club a successful campaign next season."

Back-to-back First Division champions Rotherham, who were denied promotion last season after their ground was deemed below Premiership standard, clinched the title nearly a month ago.

But a meeting on Thursday, which was supposed to rubber-stamp their elevation, finished tied at five votes all, after officials from Premier Rugby, the co-ordinating body for the top-flight clubs, requested more information on Rotherham's ground arrangements for next season.

In the meantime, double European champions Leicester could miss out on Heineken Cup qualification next season and Dean Richards admits the Tigers are up against it.

Only one door into Europe remains open, but Leicester's current poor form and a lengthy injury list suggests their miserable campaign could yet disintegrate completely.

Having missed out on silverware domestic or European for the first time since 1998, Tigers' Heineken Cup hopes now rest entirely on the hope of winning the inaugural Zurich Premiership wild card play-offs.

They face semi-final opponents Harlequins in home and away legs over the next week, with Leeds and Saracens also chasing a May 31 final place, probably at Twickenham.

Leicester's 31-13 defeat by Premiership top-dogs Gloucester was their 10th league defeat of the season, underlining a considerable slump.

Richards now has to pick up his players for Wednesday's first leg at The Stoop, where Quins will be in buoyant mood following a superb 25-21 victory at high-flying Wasps.

"The wild card play-offs are going to be very important for us," said Richards.

"There is a lot riding on it for us, and with the amount of injuries we've got, then we can't be too confident about playing Harlequins.

"Quins are a good side, and it will be a hard game, but it will be hard to take if we do not get into the Heineken Cup. We will endeavour to make sure we do get in."

Leicester had no answer against a rampant Gloucester side that finished the regular season 15 points clear of second-placed Wasps, and are now firm favourites to win the title play-off final later this month.