London Welsh win appeal

London Welsh will play in the Aviva Premiership next season after winning their appeal against a Rugby Football Union decision to block their promotion.

The Championship winners were originally denied the right to go up after being told they had failed to meet the minimum standards required of a Premiership club.

London Welsh’s appeal was heard yesterday by an independent panel, who found in favour of the Richmond-based club.

London Welsh were initially told they had failed the minimum standards audit on a number of factors but primarily because they did not meet the requirement for primacy of tenure.

London Welsh argued the primacy of tenure rule breached UK and European competition law and was therefore void and unenforceable.