Premiership hopefuls dealt huge blow to promotion plans

Premiership promotion hopefuls Doncaster Knights and Ealing Trailfinders have not met the minimum standards criteria for promotion to the top flight.

The RFU Council agreed in June that the winner of this season's Championship was to be promoted to the Premiership subject to meeting the required minimum standards criteria.

Minimum standards criteria are in place to ensure Premiership Rugby clubs and promoted clubs have suitable facilities to protect player safety and welfare, and to provide a good quality, safe environment for spectators.

League leaders Doncaster and promotion favourites Ealing nominated their home grounds to be eligible for promotion and to be independently audited under the minimum standards criteria.

One of the requirements is that the stadium most hold a minimum of 10,001 fans with neither side coming close to reaching that.

Ealing does not currently have a licensed capacity, but the ground holds approximately 5,000 with 2,115 seats, whilst Doncaster currently has a capacity of around 5,183 with 1,926 seats.

The independent audit has found that neither club has successfully met the minimum standards criteria based on capacity and other factors as well.

Chief executive officer of the RFU, Bill Sweeney said: “The RFU and PRL would welcome a Championship club being promoted to create a 14-team Gallagher Premiership league.

“In the past, clubs with home grounds which would not meet the Minimum Standards Criteria have nominated other grounds, under a ground-share agreement to provide a bridge between a club developing its own facilities to provide safe, compliant participation in the Premiership.

“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.”

Both clubs are entitled to appeal the decision through an independent arbitration process.

Written by Ben Jaycock