London Welsh on verge of closure

CASH-strapped former Aviva Premiership club London Welsh could be wound up in the High Court tomorrow over a tax bill and have failed to pay their players or rent at their Old Deer Park home.

Welsh, one of England’s oldest clubs, were relegated from the Premiership in 2015 and have been unable to secure long-term investment that would sustain them as a viable commercial entity in the Greene King IPA Championship.

The club — formed in 1871 — have been in dispute with the trust which owns Old Deer Park in Richmond, south west London since January over unpaid ground rent. It is understood that even if they survive the winding up order from HMRC, they must still find a further £27,000 in outstanding rent to survive.

If they fail to produce that money they face being barred from Old Deer Park, where they returned following a move to Oxford’s Kassam Stadium which failed to generate anywhere near enough of an increase in crowds.

Their financial plight is described as ‘the tip of the iceberg’ for the severely underfunded league in which other clubs could be facing a similar crisis.

THREE-TIME champions Munster made a winning start to their Pro12 season with a 23-13 win at Scarlets.

Tries from James Cronin and Ronan O’Mahony put Munster ahead, but Wales scrum-half Gareth Davies scored a scintillating try before half time.

Munster’s Tyler Bleyendaal and Wales back Rhys Patchell traded penalties, before replacement Ian Keatley kicked Munster into a 10point lead. Patchell missed a late kick as Scarlets failed to earn a losing bonus point.