Former top flight clubs who plummeted down the Leagues
ORRELL (1988-1997):
Doughty battlers in the top flight for a decade and only a narrow final day defeat at Harlequins prevented them taking the title in 1992. But as professionalism gripped they hit the wall and won just three games in their relegation season with their nadir being an 89-18 annihilation at Quins. Went into administration in 1998 with debts of £500,000, sold junior pitches, then bought and sold by Dave Whelan owner of Wigan RL between 2001-04. Rock bottom was reached in August 2002 when their clubhouse burned down. The existing club grew out of the Orrell Anvils, the club’s old third XV which registered with the RFU when the senior professional side went into freefall. This season: South Lancs/Cheshire 2
RICHMOND (1997-99):
Cash rich – or so we thought – breezed into the Premiership in 1997-1998 and finished a creditable 5th which included a convincing home win over champions Newcastle. The next season they finished 9th (out of 14 teams) but as they hit the financial buffers they and London Scottish were put into administration in March 1999 with undisclosed debts and the professional clubs merged with London Irish. Crucially, the amateur Richmond club retained its independent status and, out of the carnage at the Athletic ground, has emerged a remarkable tale of rebirth with Richmond working their way from Herts/Middlesex 1 to National League One. This season: Championship, currently 9th
LONDON SCOTTISH (1998-99):
The Scottish story closely parallels their friends and co-tenant Richmond, although they enjoyed only one year in the top flight as a professional club under director of rugby John Steele. The Exiles finished 12th that season which was enough to avoid relegation but in the summer of 1996 Tony Tiarks, who had bought the club for £500,000 in 1996, withdrew his backing and Scottish were forced into administration along with Richmond. Both the professional operations were nominally merged with London Irish. The Scots started at the bottom again but seven promotions in ten seasons saw them arrive in National One and now the Championship.
This season: Championship, currently 11th
RUGBY LIONS (1992-1993):
A famous name but Rugby struggled from the off against intrinsically bigger clubs. Just avoided the drop in 1992 despite managing only two wins all season – against Harlequins and Rosslyn Park – but there was no escape the following season when a 6-5 win at West Hartlepool was their solitary win. Declined steadily through the years but an attempt was made to halt the slide in 201112 when Neil Back was bought in a strong squad recruited. Rugby were unbeaten in winning National League 3 (Midlands) and won the Warwickshire Cup but the company holding the majority of the club went into liquidation and Rugby were suspend for a year before starting at the bottom of the pile. This season: Midlands 1 West
WATERLOO (1988-89):
Just escaped the bullet in 1988 when they finished fourth but relegated the next season along with Liverpool St Helens, a grievous blow for the North West. Managed just one win and a draw in their relegation season, against Orrell and Gloucester respectively, to total three points, one more than Liverpool St Helens. Like many others Waterloo, despite producing young players like Ben Kay and Will Greenwood, tried and failed to get on terms with the realities of professional rugby. Now known as Firwood Waterloo and still play at the historic Blundellsands ground where for many years England trials used to be held. This season: North 1 (West)
WEST HARTLEPOOL (1990-99, various):
West were a big club at the dawn of time, declined and then through the 80s and 90s moved steadily up through the leagues – winning Courage League Three on the way up before finally making the old Division One (the Premiership these days) in 1990, only to come straight down. West struggled financially with the arrival of professionalism but kept plugging away, were a close knit group and very difficult to beat at Brierton Lane and enjoyed three seasons in the top flight before they got relegated one last time in 1998-99. After that they went into free fall down the leagues as they struggled to pay off their accumulated debts. This season: North 1 (East)