Premiership's poor relation makes dignified exit
Before we get wrapped up in the Aviva Premiership play-offs, spare a thought for London Welsh. Relegated after one season blighted by harsh treatment, employee fraud and bad luck, Welsh managed to retain their dignity and give a good account of themselves on the field.
The odds of survival were stacked heavily against them from the start. Their playing budget was dwarfed by other Premiership clubs and they had only a few weeks to recruit a squad after legal prevarication delayed confirmation of their promotion.
Their final match at their temporary home in Oxford, a 33-22 win over Worcester, saw the players show the fighting spirit expressed by everyone involved at London Welsh over the past year.
Players and backroom staff are leaving out of necessity, CEO Tony Copsey's short tenure didn't stretch to the end of the season and their major financial backer, Kelvin Bryon, recently reached the end of his tether. Deducted five league points by an RFU panel for the Mike Scott fraud event over the registration of scrum-half Tyson Keats, there was nothing left to smile about.
Lyn Jones' nomination for Director of Rugby of the Year speaks volumes for what has been achieved on a financial shoestring. Among the many strengths the Aviva Premiership boasts is the relative parity of the teams; any team can beat any other on their day. Welsh achieved five wins (and seven defeats narrow enough to earn them a losing bonus point) despite the inequitable distribution of funding among the clubs. Short of ending promotion and relegation altogether, the Premiership is about as closed as a shop can be. There are lessons to be learned.
Injustices and unfair financial arrangements aside, London Welsh should be congratulated on punching above their weight in the Premiership. They kept smiling when it seemed impossible, and though it is hard to see them getting back to the top flight any time soon, there are surely enough guts and spirit in the club for them not to slide into oblivion as Orrell has.
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Richard Seeckts' rugby career consisted of one school match where he froze on the wing and despite no substitutes being available he was withdrawn from the game at half-time for mocking the opposition's line-out calls. Thereafter Richard and the sport agreed active participation was not the way ahead, but that has not prevented him from avidly writing about and watching the game. He now contributes his random observations to the Crooked Feed blog on ESPNscrum.com
