Falcons accept Exiles ruling

Newcastle have accepted the decision to allow London Welsh to play in the Premiership next season and will not contest the ruling.

The Falcons finished bottom of the Aviva Premiership table last season and therefore would have been, under normal circumstances, automatically relegated to the Championship, with the play-off winners replacing them in the top flight. But it was deemed that the Exiles had 'failed to meet the minimum standards required of a Premiership club' and were therefore denied the right to ply their trade in England's top division. The Richmond-based club launched an appeal, which was heard in London on June 21, and the RFU panel agreed with their grievances and ruled that the decision to deny them the chance to play in the Premiership breached UK and European competition law and was therefore void and unenforceable. Newcastle considered legal action of their own but have now released a statement which will draw the matter to a close so they can focus on the task of bouncing back at the first attempt with Dean Richards now on board as director of rugby. A club statement read: "Newcastle Falcons confirm there will be no appeal of the decision made by the independent panel to uphold London Welsh's appeal and relegate the Falcons to the Championship. "We are now looking forward to an exciting new era under the guidance of incoming director of rugby Dean Richards." Welsh will play their home games at Oxford United's Kassam Stadium next term, bringing the number of Premiership clubs that ground share with football clubs to four.