1
Cardiff Blues lost out on Judgement Day but enjoyed a more favourable judgment at the London High Court
By Online Editors
Cardiff Blues’ season ended badly last weekend, as their Judgement Day loss to Ospreys at the Principality Stadium extinguished any hopes they had of qualifying for next season’s Champions Cup.
However, the club had a more favourable judgment in midweek when their financial situation at the end of a horrible season blighted by the Project Reset uncertainty was cleared up.
The tax man in the UK had been making moves to wind up the club over an unpaid HMRC bill, but a insolvency judge was told at the London High Court that the debt had been settled.
The sum of money involved was not disclosed, but a HM Revenue & Customs' barrister told Judge Sebastian Prentis that the debt had been paid in full by Cardiff Blues Ltd.
He asked for the tax authority’s winding up petition to be dismissed and the judge dismissed the petition.
Following the resolution of the case, a Cardiff Blues spokesperson told walesonline.com: "Cardiff Blues were behind on a month 10 payment due to a delay in scheduled incoming monies. As with all sports organisations, HMRC did not wait long to begin proceedings.
"The outstanding debt was paid in full on April 5, and the winding up order was dismissed at London’s High Court on May 1. Subsequently, all other HMRC liabilities since are fully up to date.”
Last year’s Challenge Cup champions finished up their PRO14 campaign in fifth spot in Conference A following the loss of their final three matches, the defeat to Welsh rivals Ospreys last Saturday coming after disappointing setbacks in Ireland versus Munster and Connacht. That left them finishing with just 10 wins in 21 matches.
They have been affected by some contract wrangles in recent weeks, out-half Gareth Anscombe deciding his club future will be better served by playing for Ospreys next season while veteran Nick Williams is struggling to nail down a contract extension.
WATCH: Wales' Warren Gatland announces his World Cup training squad
Trending on RugbyPass
2
Shock contender emerges Wales head coach job
3
France change two for Ireland but stick with 7-1 bench tactic
4
Avoid a deal with Kalyn Ponga
5
Latest Comments
33, unlikely?
It’s actually an interesting question, how does his RL career impact you perception of his ‘rugby age’?
I’d imagine he’s fresher than a 26 yo rugby player, he’s fitting and done more k’s, but had less impacts (unsure of his injuries).
Anyway, your conclusion doesn’t really hit the mark. What you’ve not asked yourself is would he be better at 33, with 6 years under his belt, than 28/9, and only 2 years experience. If he really is considering it a major goal of course, he may just want an Olympic medal and leave etc.
Still, in relation to your topic, what I suspected would be his thinking is the ever increasing value in playing in Japan. Perhaps he’d try and give this first WC a go, trying to make it in the All Blacks, obviously playing Super Rugby, then he’d take a much bigger contract in Japan? Learn how to run around people with better accuracy and consistency (rofl), and then return to NZ as an improved player to Australia 2027, with the hope to fine tune further and make the most of his marketability in the bonanza that America 2031 is going to leave behind. 33 is still prime earning age and who knows what the MLR market is going to be like them, if teams have started to have major backers etc.
It’s all about the money afterall (yes, I wasn’t referring to his ability re USA31’)!
Go to commentsNo, just an overly zealous fan who doesn’t know what he’s talking about.
Go to comments