London Irish became the third Premiership club to be suspended from competition in just eight months due to financial issues; Worcester Warriors and Wasps entered into administration and enforced relegation in October 2022
By Michael Cantillon
Last Updated: 07/06/23 4:11pm
England internationals Jack Willis (Wasps), Ollie Hassell-Collins (London Irish) and Ollie Lawrence (Worcester) have seen their clubs perish this season
Tuesday brought news that London Irish had been suspended from the Premiership for the 2023/24 season due to financial issues – an outcome which sees a third club from 13 professional outfits to hit the rocks in the space of eight months.
After a campaign in which two Premiership clubs in Worcester Warriors and Wasps experienced administration, enforced relegation and continue to face the threat of extinction, London Irish – who finished fifth in the table, just missing out on the play-offs – have now followed suit, while each and every remaining club sits in differing levels of debt.
Indeed, such was the disruption during the season, the fact the Exiles could not provide evidence they would be able to adequately fund themselves through the 2023/24 campaign saw the RFU bar the club from any league next season.
We detail below what has happened, when it has, how it has, and what the outlook appears to be…
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