'Surprised and disappointed' - Richmond issue statement on RFU's Yorkshire decision

Richmond have claimed they are “surprised and disappointed” by the RFU’s decision to allow financially-stricken Yorkshire Carnegie to remain in the English Championship without any sanction being applied.  

The relegated London club had been hopeful that punishment for their Leeds-based rivals could see them return to the second tier of English rugby at Yorkshire’s expense prior to the start of the new season. 

However, that aspiration has been quashed after the RFU confirmed they were satisfied with the financial resolutions reached by Yorkshire with their creditors. It is an outcome that has left Richmond feeling bemused.

“Following the agreement to Yorkshire Carnegie’s CVA by their creditors which has resulted in the players who saved them from imminent relegation being paid only 15p in the pound for the remainder of their contracts, the RFU have decided that Yorkshire Carnegie will remain in the Greene King IPA championship without any sanction whatsoever,” read a Richmond statement on Monday. 

“While we, together with much of the rugby community it would seem, are surprised and disappointed with this decision, we look forward to renewing our friendship with the clubs in National 1 in what should be a very competitive and enjoyable season. 

“We regularly have 90 players training during the summer and a large number of new recruits have joined the club. All five of our men’s sides will be as strong as ever.”

Yorkshire had revealed on Friday that their participation in the Championship had been green-lighted by the RFU who confirmed that the potential deduction of 28 points would not happen.

The RFU board had previously announced that Yorkshire could remain a participant of the Championship for the 2019-20 season subject to the club satisfying certain conditions relating to the entering into of a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA).

The insolvency practitioners supervising the CVA entered into by Yorkshire Carnegie, Begbies Traynor, provided confirmation to the RFU that 100 per cent of the club’s creditors had either agreed to the terms of the CVA or been paid in full by third parties.

This information was received by the August 9 deadline. That meant that, as per RFU regulation 5.3, the RFU confirmed that the Yorkshire club would not be subject to a deduction of 28 points for the new Championship season.

Yorkshire managing director Chris Gibson said: “This is great news and allows us to progress with our plans for next season. On behalf of everyone at the club, I would like to thank those who have supported the club through this difficult process and allowed us to continue. 

“Our focus now is on building a side to compete in the Championship and support the vision of our director of rugby Martyn Wood and head coach Joe Ford.”

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