Rugger off ...

[GodalmingYellow]

OUFC are in the middle of a 25 year lease which I would suspect they can't get out of. London Welsh it seems can go back to their previous ground ...

Without wishing to be unnecessarily contrary, I've read reports that Welsh may not be able to go back to Old Deer Park due to planning issues. No idea if those reports are true or not.

I can't imagine that KasStad will be affordable to Welsh if they are relegated, and probably not even if they are not relegated. I would think negotiations for a rent reduction are ongoing.

[Paul Cooper]

OUFC are in the middle of a 25 year lease which I would suspect they can't get out of. London Welsh it seems can go back to their previous ground ...

Without wishing to be unnecessarily contrary, I've read reports that Welsh may not be able to go back to Old Deer Park due to planning issues. No idea if those reports are true or not.

You may well be right but I heard on the radio yesterday evening LW being quoted as suggesting that thye may go back to their old ground. It may well not be that easy and you would think that their objective would be promotion back to the top division in which case their old ground would not be suitable ...

I agree that negotiations on the rent are probably ongoing- will be interetsing to see how they get on with Mr Kassam.....

[Matt D]

You may well be right but I heard on the radio yesterday evening LW being quoted as suggesting that thye may go back to their old ground. It may well not be that easy and you would think that their objective would be promotion back to the top division in which case their old ground would not be suitable ...

I agree that negotiations on the rent are probably ongoing- will be interetsing to see how they get on with Mr Kassam.....

...and LWRFC's hand is likely to be strongest in those if they present a position where a) they can go back to old deer park and b) their current rental charge is not sustainable for them.

whatever the truth of those two statements, it's clear that LWRFC have an interest in presenting them as true if they want to play at minchery at the lowest rent they can secure. they've also got a while longer to negotiate it this time round.

[Snake]

...if they want to play at minchery at the lowest rent they can secure. they've also got a while longer to negotiate it this time round.

Knowing Firoka (and Ashwini in particular having gone eye-to-eye* with him on the City Council Land Deal legal case on a professional basis) they would refuse/delay/obfuscate ‘negotiations’ until a few days before the Rugger Authorities wanted an answer about where they will play next season. My advice to the egg chasers is start looking at other options unless they have someone in their team who is really good at playing poker.

* = and the key to winning is to not blink

[Mooro]

From the BBC:

1131:
RUGBY UNION

Championship side Bedford Blues fail to meet the Minimum Standards Criteria which determines a club's eligibility for promotion to the Premiership.

Leeds Carnegie, Newcastle Falcons and Nottingham Rugby have met the standards.

Bedford face Nottingham, and Leeds play Newcastle in the forthcoming Championship play-off semi-finals.

##
So tell the fat lady to take a time out, could be that LW get a reprieve.....!

[Hog]

So if Bedford can't be promoted why do they let them take part in the play-offs? If they win their only prize is to stop another team from getting promoted. And save LW's backsides!

[Hog]

So the Welsh hope to stay in Oxford ...

http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/sport/10400 ... les_coach/

... playing at the University. Yeah, right!

[Ancient Colin]

Championship side Bedford Blues fail to meet the Minimum Standards Criteria which determines a club's eligibility for promotion to the Premiership.

Bedford beat Nottingam 26-17 in the first leg of their play off semi-final ...

[reviving a somewhat earlier co-tenant plan, I see Henley were promoted out of Div Two (South) to Div One - effectively the rugby's third division]

[Mooro]

Bedford lost 9-18 at home to Newcastle Falcons in the first leg of the playoffs.

So unless they make a comeback in the second leg, in which case no one will be promoted, then London Welsh will be relegated.

[slappy]

I've just clicked on the football league article about us signing Jonathan Meades, and noticed they are using a new view of the Kassam Stadium.

I was trying to figure out what the yellow blob down at the front of the South Stand was. It's only an AVIVA RUGBY carpet coming out of the player's tunnel.

I don't have a problem with them plastering their own branding on the stadium on their match days, but at least the football league could use a picture without it on.

[A-Ro]

I have to admit that I never expected this to happen.

[Mooro]

“In conjunction with the stadium management company, we have brought in two of the top specialists in the country to advise us and to complete the work."

Article reads as though it is the club putting up all the money, but this one line does make me wonder whether the SMC have put up some of the cost as well - arguments about whether they (and/or any rugby club on site) should be paying all of aside, I would still hope that the SMC have at least shared the cost.

[Snake]

Even more amazed to see a non-League club doing the same thing...

http://www.dailypost.co.uk/sport/footba ... an-4032436

[ty cobb]

So Kassam gets a load more rent for rugby which buggers the pitch up and then we have to pay to put it right?

This is getting beyond a joke now, it's time Kassam f*cked off and let us have some hope of generating revenue beyond getting people in through the gate. Come on OxVox where is this plan to help get the stadium back into the hands of the club, surely time to call for a boycott of Kassam owned companies and start creating some negative publicity for him, this really is taking the piss.

[GodalmingYellow]

I see Welsh have now confirmed that they will be playing again at Grenoble Road next season.

Oh joy.