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:London Welsh RFC

{{Short description|Defunct professional rugby union club based in London, England}}

{{About|the former professional rugby club located in Richmond-upon-Thames|the London Welsh Centre (Y Canolfan) at Gray's Inn Road|London Welsh Centre|the separate amateur team competing under the London Welsh name|London Welsh Amateur}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}}

{{Use British English|date=January 2013}}

{{Infobox rugby team

| teamname = London Welsh

| image = London_welsh_badge.png

| imagesize = 150

| fullname = London Welsh Rugby Football Club

| nickname = Exiles, Dragons, Welsh

| location = Richmond, Richmond upon Thames, London, England

| union = Middlesex RFU, Wales RU

| countryflag = England

| founded = {{Start date and age|1885}}

| disbanded = {{End date and age|2017}}

| ground = Old Deer Park

| capacity = 5000 (1,000 seats)

| chairman = Danny Griffiths

| Coach = Cai Griffiths

| manager = Pete Lowe

| captain = Chris Lilly

| top scorer =

| caps =

| most tries =

| league =

| season =

| position =

| url = https://www.londonwelshrfc.com/

| pattern_la1 = |pattern_b1 = _whitesleevelinesandsides |pattern_ra1 = |leftarm1 = FF0000 |body1 = FF0000 |rightarm1 = FF0000 |shorts1 = FFFFFF |socks1 = FF0000

| pattern_la2 = |pattern_b2 = _whitesleevelinesandsides |pattern_ra2 = |leftarm2 = ffffff |body2 = 262626 |rightarm2 = ffffff |shorts2 = 262626 |socks2 = 262626

}}

London Welsh Rugby Football Club ({{langx|cy|Clwb Rygbi Cymry Llundain}}) was a rugby union club formed in 1885. Based in Old Deer Park, Richmond-upon-Thames, London Welsh RFC played in the English Premiership in the 2012–13 and 2014–15 seasons, after gaining promotion from the RFU Championship in the 2012 and 2014 play-off final. The club returned to Old Deer Park in 2015 after three seasons at the Kassam Stadium, Oxford.

The club went into liquidation in December 2016{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/37838838|title=Phillips quits as London Welsh chairman|work=BBC Sport}} and was given a temporary licence to complete two fixtures in the Championship. Chairman at the time Bleddyn Phillips claimed to have sold the club to a California-based investment group led by Welshman Trevor Owen Shaw, but no contract or funds ever materialised.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/sep/05/london-welsh-avoid-winding-up-order-high-court-pay-debts|title = London Welsh avoid winding-up order and secure new investment| newspaper=The Guardian |date = 5 September 2016| last1=Lucas | first1=Dan }}

On 24 January 2017 it was announced that London Welsh had been removed from the RFU Championship and their results expunged. The RFU stated that their place in the league was "untenable" and the club were dissolved.{{cite web|title=London Welsh: RFU refuses permission for Exiles to stay in Championship|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/38736486|website=BBC Sport|date=24 January 2017}} The remnants of the defunct club were amalgamated into their amateur set up.

Affiliated teams

During professionalism, London Welsh's first-XV squad were fully professional, and they were complemented with the London Welsh Amateurs, Druids and Occies. Following the changes at the club in the 2016/17 season the club operates the 1st XV and Druids 2nd XV that form the performance playing squad, the Occies 3rd XV and the Under 23s Griffins player pathway.{{citation needed|date=January 2019}}

London Welsh has one of the longest-standing women's sides – LWWRFC – which celebrated thirty years of women's rugby at the club in the 2015–16 season. While still being amateur, the club has succeeded both in XVs in the winter and 7s during the summer as well as players representing England at the regional level and on the Wales national touch team. There is also a mini and junior section.

History

=Early years=

London Welsh was formed in 1885 by and for London's Welsh community, and has played senior-level rugby since then.Jones (1985), pg 3. Its name in Welsh, is Clwb Rygbi Cymry Llundain.

=1960s=

London Welsh enjoyed great success in the late 1960s. John Dawes was appointed captain, and effectively also as coach, for the 1965–66 season. He initially significantly increased fitness levels, and then led the club in an open, running, quick-passing, attacking style of rugby, including an overlapping full-back, and relatively skilled forwards. One 1968-69 performance was described by journalist John Reason{{Cite web|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10425614|title=Obituary: John Reason|date=15 December 2023 }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/columnists/brendangallagher/2307779/About-Rugby-Special-tribute-to-John-Reason.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/columnists/brendangallagher/2307779/About-Rugby-Special-tribute-to-John-Reason.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title = About Rugby: Special tribute to John Reason|date=15 February 2007 }}{{cbignore}} as "one of the most brilliant exhibitions of club football it has been my privilege to see," and by journalist Terry O'Connor{{Cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/3015852/Talking-Rugby-Union-Game-enriched-by-competitive-line-out.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/3015852/Talking-Rugby-Union-Game-enriched-by-competitive-line-out.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title = Talking Rugby Union: Game enriched by competitive line-out|date=30 October 2001 }}{{cbignore}} as "the finest display by a club team I can remember', further describing London Welsh 'switching attacks with speed and handling skill.'The Man Who Changed the World of Rugby – John Dawes and the Legendary 1971 British Lions, Ross Reyburn{{Cite web|url=https://www.therugbyjournal.com/rugby-blog/john-dawes|title=John Dawes|date=17 September 2019 }}

Seven London Welsh players were selected for the 1971 British Lions tour to New Zealand (a Lions record which remains unbroken to this day).see section below

=2006-9=

In December 2006, London Welsh revealed their ambition to leave the English league and become the fifth Welsh team in the Celtic League. The club later appeared to go back on this report, claiming they had been misquoted and said this would only be considered if the English Premiership decided to prohibit promotion/relegation, but confirmed their hopes of ground-sharing with Brentford FC either at their current stadium Griffin Park or a new 20,000 seat ground to be built at Lionel Road, near Kew Bridge.

=2009–12: Championship era=

In June 2009, the club went into administration shortly after turning professional.{{cite news|url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKLN25065020090623?rpc=401&|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090703045128/http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKLN25065020090623?rpc=401&|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 July 2009|title=Rugby-London Welsh Rugby forced into administration|last=Maidment|first=Neil|date=23 June 2009|publisher=Reuters|access-date=23 June 2009}} They were bought from the receivers in July 2009 by Saudex Global, owned by Neil Hollinshead, and allowed to continue in The Championship, albeit with a five-point deduction.{{cite news|url=http://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/sport/rugby/londonwelshnews/4502259.Rescued_Welsh_handed_five_point_deduction_for_new_campaign/|title=Rescued Welsh handed five-point deduction for new campaign|date=20 July 2009|publisher=yourlocalguardian.co.uk|access-date=28 August 2009}}{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-12888031|title=London Welsh RFC 'fraud': RFU changes rules |date=29 March 2011 |publisher=BBC |access-date=1 June 2011 |work=BBC News}} According to the BBC in March 2011, court documents show that Hollinshead is "alleged to have submitted forged documents and fake bank account details in order to continue his control of London Welsh and that he repeatedly lied to ensure that ownership of London Welsh was transferred over to him." The former shareholders of London Welsh RFC rescinded the 2009 agreement, by which they sold the shares of the club to Hollinshead, and had regained control by January 2010.

The 2010–11 season was the club's 125th anniversary and to kick off the celebrations they held a military tattoo on the evening of Wednesday 25 August at Old Deer Park with the Band and Corps of Drums of the Welsh Guards, plus the London Welsh Rugby Club Choir.

=2012–15: Premiership era and relocation to Oxford=

On 1 June 2012, it was revealed that Crystal Palace co-chairman Steve Parish had approached senior figures at the club about a possible ground-share at Selhurst Park, as the club's plans to play their matches at Kassam Stadium in Oxford were deemed unsuitable by the RFU, after securing promotion to the English Premiership.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/18175903|title=London Welsh not eligible for Premiership promotion |date=23 June 2012 |publisher=BBC |access-date=4 July 2011 |work=BBC News}} However a legal appeal by the club against the RFU's actions was upheld on 28 June 2012, after the appeal panel ruled that the criteria were in breach of EU and UK competition laws. Promotion was ultimately secured when it was announced that Newcastle Falcons, the club facing relegation from the Premiership, would not appeal against the ruling.{{citation needed|date=September 2020}} A move to the Kassam Stadium was then confirmed for the 2012–13 season.

In 2013 London Welsh caused controversy by fielding an ineligible player (Tyson Keats) in nine league matches during the season, eventually receiving a 5-point deduction and £10,000 fine.{{cite news|url= https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/rugby/london-welsh-poised-for-appeal-against-points-deduction-8541510.html |location=London|work=Evening Standard |title=London Welsh poised for appeal against points deduction |date=20 March 2013 |access-date=24 January 2017}}

On 14 April 2013, London Welsh were relegated from the English Premiership in their first season (pending the winners of the RFU Championship meeting the Premiership entry requirements) after a 14–31 defeat at home to Northampton Saints. Newcastle Falcons were eligible for promotion and therefore confirmed Welsh's relegation.

On 4 June 2014, London Welsh won promotion to the English Premiership again, defeating Bristol Rugby 27–8 at home and 21–20 away, 48–28 on aggregate.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/22084245|title=London Welsh 14–31 Northampton|work=BBC Sport|date=14 April 2013|access-date=28 September 2016|via=bbc.co.uk}}

However, the club endured a difficult season back in the English top flight, and suffered defeat in all of their 22 league fixtures of the regular season, claiming only 1 bonus point throughout the entire campaign. The team therefore finished bottom and was relegated to the RFU Championship for the 2015–16 season. The team was also defeated in every single European Challenge Cup game, as well as every single Anglo-Welsh cup game. As a result, they became the first top-flight English side for over 10 years to suffer defeat in every single competitive match over a season.

=2015–2017: return to Richmond and liquidation=

{{further|London Welsh Amateur}}

The club left Oxford and returned to Old Deer Park at the end of the 2014–15 season. Following the return the club, led by head coach Rowland Phillips, went on to win the British and Irish Cup, beating Yorkshire Carnegie 10–33. Phillips then moved on to take up a coaching role with the Welsh Rugby Union. He was succeeded by forwards coach James Buckland who took the role of head coach, assisted by Sonny Parker and Richard Tonkin.{{cite web |url=http://www.london-welsh.co.uk/index.php?mod=news_view&id=2934 |title=London Welsh Rugby Club – News |website=London-welsh.co.uk |date=2016-07-20 |access-date=2017-04-04 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170510090922/http://www.london-welsh.co.uk/index.php?mod=news_view&id=2934 |archive-date=10 May 2017 }}

HMRC petitioned the High Court to wind up the club in September 2016 due to unresolved debts. The debts were paid and the petition was dismissed by the High Court. HMRC returned to court with a second winding-up petition in October 2016 and the insolvency court granted a stay of two weeks to arrange refinancing. After failing to pay their debts, the club went into voluntary liquidation on 23 December 2016.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/38241956 |title=Championship club to go into liquidation |publisher=BBC Sport |date=7 December 2016 |access-date=24 January 2017}} The club ceased to be a member of the RFU at that point and the liquidator stated that London Welsh would not be fulfilling the club's fixtures in the league. A separate entity, "Rugby 1885 Limited", was created on 21 December 2016. The club were deducted 20 points from the Championship dropping them from 5th to 12th. Rugby 1885 Limited were granted a temporary licence to complete London Welsh's two fixtures until a further decision on their future in the Championship.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/38405121 |title=London Welsh granted temporary licence despite losing half their players |date=22 December 2016 |publisher=BBC Sport |access-date=24 January 2017}} When the temporary licence expired on 17 January 2017, the RFU Board met and extended a deadline to allow the new entity to show it could meet RFU regulations.{{cite web |url=http://www.englandrugby.com/news/rfu-update-london-welsh-rfc/ |title=RFU update on London Welsh RFC |date=24 January 2017 |publisher=Rugby Football Union |access-date=24 January 2017}} After a further deadline was not met, on 24 January 2017 it was announced by the RFU that London Welsh had been removed from the Championship and their results expunged. The RFU stated that their place in the league was "untenable".

Honours

Merit Table Rugby

Sunday Telegraph Pennants

  • English-Welsh champions 1967–68, 1970–71

runner-up 1965–66

third 1971–72Dragon in Exile, The Centenary History of London Welsh R.F.C, Stephen Jones and Paul Beken, Springwood Books, London, 1985

  • English champions 1966–67, 1967–68, 1968–69, 1970–71, 1977–78, 1978–79,

runner-up 1965–66, 1971–72

third 1972–73

  • Welsh champions 1970–71, 1971–72

third 1965–66

Herts & Middlesex 1 Champions 2017/18 season

London 3 NW Champions 2018/19 Season

Western Mail

  • Welsh Championship champions 1972–73

runner-up 1967–68, 1971–72

Daily Mail

  • Anglo-Welsh third 1978–79

Whitbread

  • Welsh Merit Table champions 1971–72

;Promotions

  • National Division 4 – runner-up, 1995–6 (fourth tier of English rugby)[http://www.rugbyarchive.net/Pagine/PaginaCompetizioni.aspx?ID=24&Stagione=1995/96 ] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903133415/http://www.rugbyarchive.net/Pagine/PaginaCompetizioni.aspx?ID=24&Stagione=1995%2F96 |date=3 September 2014 }}
  • Jewson National League 1 – 3rd, 1997–98 (third tier of English rugby){{cite web|url=http://www.moseleyrugby.co.uk/report_display12.php?menitem=104|title=Reports Display Page|access-date=28 September 2016|archive-date=28 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140728224740/http://www.moseleyrugby.co.uk/report_display12.php?menitem=104|url-status=dead}}
  • Lowest league position 6th 1993–4 Courage League Division 5 South (5th tier)[http://www.rugbyarchive.net/Pagine/PaginaCompetizioni.aspx?ID=24&Stagione=1993/94 ] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140520095021/http://www.rugbyarchive.net/Pagine/PaginaCompetizioni.aspx?ID=24&Stagione=1993%2F94 |date=20 May 2014 }}
  • Highest league position 12th Aviva Premiership 2012–13 (1st tier){{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyarchive.net/Pagine/Squadre.aspx?ID=163 |title=The history of rugby through its competitions |website=Rugbyarchive.net |access-date=2017-04-04}}

Notable former players

=Players who have won international and Lions caps=

Over the years the club has contributed 177 players to the Wales national team and 43 players to the British & Irish Lions.

Seven London Welsh players were selected for the 1971 tour to New Zealand (a Lions record which remains unbroken to this day): captain John Dawes, J. P. R. Williams, Gerald Davies, Mervyn Davies, John Taylor (now Managing Director{{cite news|url=http://www.london-welsh.co.uk/club_contacts.asp|title=London Welsh – Club Contacts|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091019193126/http://www.london-welsh.co.uk/club_contacts.asp|archive-date=19 October 2009}} and ITV commentator), Mike Roberts and Geoff Evans.

=British and Irish Lions=

The following former players were selected for the British & Irish Lions touring squads while playing for London Welsh.

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{{div col end}}

=Wales International Captains=

The following former players captained the Wales national rugby union team while playing for London Welsh.

See also Wales rugby union captains

=Other notable former players=

:See also :Category:London Welsh RFC players

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London Welsh Football Club

The club set up an association football side in 1890 called London Welsh FC. They continue to this day in their own right, based in Chiswick.

See also

Bibliography

  • {{cite book |last1=Jones |first1=Stephen |first2=Paul |last2=Beken |title=Dragon in Exile, The Centenary History of London Welsh R.F.C. |year=1985 |publisher=Springwood Books |location=London |isbn=0-86254-125-5}}

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

  • {{official website}}

{{RFU Championship}}

{{English Premiership (rugby union)}}

{{British and Irish Cup}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:London Welsh Rfc}}

Category:Premiership Rugby teams

Category:Defunct rugby union teams in England

Category:Rugby union clubs in London

Category:Rugby clubs established in 1885

Category:Rugby union clubs disestablished in 2017

Category:Welsh diaspora in England

Category:Sport in Oxford

Category:Diaspora sports clubs in the United Kingdom

Category:1885 establishments in England

Category:2017 disestablishments in England