Rugby Union: Richmond face death sentence

ENGLISH CLUB rugby was thrown headlong into a new and damaging political crisis last night as the Premiership revolution threatened to devour one of its own.

Richmond, one of the oldest clubs in the world and a founder member of the Rugby Football Union, were given until Monday afternoon to sign their own death warrant by accepting a buy-out offer from their top-flight rivals that would inevitably result in closure.

According to senior Richmond officials, including John Kingston, the director of rugby, and Ben Clarke, the captain, their would-be purchasers were attempting to commit sporting fratricide on a Cain and Abel scale.

"This is a pivotal moment for our game," said an emotional Kingston, who appealed to his fellow coaches to speak out against the takeover bid.

"This is not the work of rugby people, but of people who don't understand people and don't understand the game.

"There is a ruthless desire to close us down and damn the ramifactions and, if it succeeds, I'm afraid we won't be the last."

Richmond, formed 138 years ago, were forced into financial administration in March when Ashley Levett, their major backer, reduced his investment after pumping some pounds 7m into the club.

Their failure to put together a rescue package prompted the bid from English First Division Rugby, the Premiership clubs' umbrella organisation, who are keen to cut the number of First Division teams from 14 to 12 in time for next season.

EFDR, chaired by the Gloucester owner and motor racing tycoon Tom Walkinshaw, claims that, under the terms of a shareholding agreement among the participating clubs, they can purchase Richmond's Premiership place for a nominal pounds 1.

"They have told us that if we don't accept their buy-out offer by Monday lunchtime, they will exercise the pounds 1 option and shut us down," said Tony Dorman, the Richmond president.

"Basically, they have decided to get rid of us - they may be our own kind, but that is what they are attempting to do."

However, the Reading-based Londoners have no intention of turning up their toes and going quietly; indeed, they intend to rage against the dying of the Premiership light with every fibre of their being. "Our legal advisers are confident that EFDR is acting outside its remit and against the terms and conditions of the Mayfair Agreement, which was signed by all Premiership clubs last year," said Dorman.

"One of our options is to slap an injunction on them, but court actions are very expensive and very drawn out. We'll do it if we can afford it and feel we have to, but the uncertainty that has bedevilled this game will only continue as a result."

While EFDR did not confirm the "closure agenda" in so many words, they released a statement yesterday afternoon that effectively supported Dorman's appraisal of the situation.

"EFDR has made a formal proposal to purchase Richmond from the administrator... and, if accepted, it aims to ensure that Richmond would be capable of playing out the remainder of the season as a professional club," it read."It also aims to protect the interests, tradition and integrity of the amateur club for future seasons."

The very mention of the word "integrity" sent Kingston into orbit. "Certain people on the EFDR board are operating a dictatorship," said the coach, who claimed the organisation was operating a "gagging policy" by threatening dissenting clubs with a pounds 25,000 fine.

"I've spoken to a number of my opposite numbers - Andy Robinson at Bath, Dean Richards at Leicester, Rob Andrew at Newcastle - and their reaction is one of shock-horror.

"Integrity? My God, we need some integrity. I hope my colleagues speak out. It's easy to say this from where I'm sitting, but I wouldn't give a monkey's about an EFDR gag."

Clarke's response was more muted but no less eloquent. "To have all this put in front of us by people who are meant to support you through the bad times. I don't believe genuine rugby people would act like this or want anything like this to happen. Rugby is about respect and we are seeing a lack of respect. We are in serious danger of spoiling a wonderful sport."

Walkinshaw and his colleagues want Richmond to fulfil their important fixture against Saracens at the Madejski Stadium on Wednesday night, but whether the Richmond players feel like fulfilling it is a moot point.

Rugby will be looking at itself very closely this weekend, and it may not like what it sees.