KNIGHTS’ DREAM IS GROUND DOWN
Fairy-tale rise is put on hold
DONCASTER Knights’ bid for a fairy-tale promotion to the Premiership has been blocked by the RFU.
The homespun Yorkshire club went clear at the top of the Championship at the weekend, threatening an incredible rags-to-riches rise having started out at level 10 in the leagues.
But yesterday they were told by Twickenham they had failed to meet the minimum standards required to join English rugby’s elite yesterday and would not be allowed to go up.
Doncaster and Ealing – the two clubs to apply – were informed their home grounds do not meet the 10,000-capacity minimum for the Premiership and, in the absence of planning permission for expansion or a ground-share agreement elsewhere, were turned down.
Taken in tandem with the ending of automatic promotion and relegation to the Premiership on the field, it has the look of a drawbridge being pulled up. But RFU chief executive Bill Sweeney, below, insisted they were not ringfencing the Premiership. “The RFU and PRL would welcome a Championship club being promoted to create a 14-team Gallagher Premiership league,” said Sweeney. “In the past, clubs with home grounds, which would not meet the Minimum Standards Criteria, have nominated other grounds, under a ground-share agreement.
“The RFU and PRL would like to support and encourage all Championship clubs to continue to develop their proposals for the expansion and development of their grounds, including the submission of formal planning applications.” The decision means the Premiership, with relegation frozen, will remain at 13 clubs rather than 14 next season.
Doncaster, whose 5,183-capacity Castle Park ground is deemed fit to host England Under-20s matches and women’s internationals by the RFU, were mulling over an appeal last night. “We will have a think and then issue a statement tomorrow,” said executive chairman Tony de Mulder.
Ealing were also considering their response. Doncaster’s squad of unknowns looked to have moved within touching distance of the Premiership after completing the double over promotion favourites Ealing.
“I was overwhelmed with the number of messages we got after the weekend,” said head coach Steve Boden.“It would be really exciting to get a Yorkshire team back in the Premiership. It’s the biggest county with the most rugby clubs but no top-flight rugby union.”