London Irish players told club will be suspended

LONDON IRISH players have been told to prepare for the club to be suspended from the Premiership next week, which will mean they have to seek employment elsewhere.

The demise of the Exiles now seems inevitable after the squad’s virtual meeting last night with representatives from the Rugby Football Union, Premiership Rugby and the players’ union, the RPA. Mail Sport understands that current owner Mick Crossan was invited but did not participate — which does not suggest he is prepared to fund Irish through next season. And players were told that there is still no clarity in English rugby’s corridors of power about prospective new owners. Going into a long weekend, before Tuesday’s deadline set by the RFU for a takeover, or for Crossan to commit to fund the 2023-24 campaign, there has still been no proof of finance to be used by an American consortium to buy the debt-laden club. There is now no expectation at all that there will be an 11th-hour breakthrough nor a reprieve. After months of negotiations, the stark reality which was explained to Irish players is that the long-anticipated purchase of the club by a group including former NFL and NBA stars has not progressed as hoped.

If Irish are suspended it would mean the likes of wing Henry Arundell, centre Will Joseph and flanker Tom Pearson being among those forced to move on. It is a grim fate for players who performed admirably against a backdrop of turbulence.