London Irish is on the brink of being suspended from the Gallagher Premiership, with the deadline of one last week being given for Irish to meet the RFU’s terms; the club under its current ownership is £30m in debt and has been in protracted takeover talks with an American consortium
Last Updated: 31/05/23 8:43pm
London Irish need to pay May’s wage bill in full
London Irish have been granted an extension until June 6 to meet the RFU’s criteria for survival as a Premiership club.
The RFU announced on Wednesday evening its Club Financial Viability Group has agreed to give the club an extended deadline of one more week to meet their conditions but that this deadline will be final.
The club is £30m in debt and has been in talks with an American consortium over a takeover.
London Irish’s Premiership future is hanging in the balance
The RFU has stipulated that two either the takeover has to be completed and approved by Tuesday June 6 – an extension from Wednesday night, which was already a further 24 hours on from the RFU’s original deadline – or the club has to produce evidence it could be funded and operated throughout the entirety of next season.
The club must also pay this month’s remaining payroll to staff and players.
Failure to meet these conditions will see London Irish suspended from top-flight rugby.
The RFU stated that this extension until June 6 has been granted following consultation with staff and players who asked for the deadline to be extended to allow them to be paid the remaining 50 per cent of their May salaries.
On Tuesday, ahead of the original deadline, the American consortium in discussions to take control of the club had yet to provide proof of funds to the RFU, as well as other documentation needed for the purchase to be approved.
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