RUGBY UNION

Why London Irish ‘need a miracle’ to avoid collapse

Exiles on the brink of being third Premiership club to go out of business this season
London Irish have entertained on the field through the likes of Tom Pearson but remain in serious trouble off it
London Irish have entertained on the field through the likes of Tom Pearson but remain in serious trouble off it
ALAMY

London Irish are on the brink of collapse. The RFU has set the club a hard deadline of May 30 to prove their viability for next season or be suspended from the English league pyramid.

One of two things must happen by next Tuesday if London Irish, who do not own their stadium and are saddled with £30 million of debt, are to be saved:

● a proposed takeover by an American consortium, which has been in discussion since last October, is completed and approved by the RFU;

● the present owners of the club demonstrate they will continue to fund London Irish through the 2023-24 season.

Fail and London Irish will become the third professional club this season to collapse, after Worcester Warriors and