London Welsh, one of the biggest clubs in English rugby in the 1960s and 70s, cannot gain promotion to the Premiership, because its preferred stadium does not meet standards set by the Rugby Football Union.
London Welsh currently play at the Old Deer Park in Richmond which has only one small stand and is barely good enough for championship rugby.
In order to try and comply with RFU regulations if promoted, the club proposes to play its home fixtures at the Kassam Stadium, owned Oxford United, a fourth tier soccer club.
But the RFU board of directors has refused the reuqest. A statement issued on Wednesday said independent auditors had identified various failures at this venue.
London Welsh was formed in 1885. The club supplied seven players to a British Lions tour in 1971. It has 14 days to appeal against the decision
