London Welsh Amateur

This article is about the amateur rugby union team competing as London Welsh. For the dissolved former professional club, see London Welsh.

London Welsh Amateur

Full name	London Welsh Amateur Rugby Football Club
Union	Middlesex RFU, Wales RU
Nickname(s)	Exiles, Dragons, Druids
Founded	1990s
Location	Richmond, London, England
Ground(s)	Old Deer Park (Capacity: 5,850 (1,000 seats))
Chairman	Danny Griffiths
Coach(es)	Sonny Parker, Cai Griffiths, James Collins-Clarke
Captain(s)	Courtney Maggs-Jones
League(s)	Regional 1 South Central
2024–25	1st (promoted)
1st kit 2nd kit
Official website
www.londonwelshrfc.com

London Welsh Amateur Rugby Football Club, previously known as London Welsh Druids ^[1] and as of 2017 London Welsh, ^[2] is an English amateur rugby union club based at Old Deer Park in Richmond, London. They were the amateur team of London Welsh until the professional team's liquidation in 2017. ^[3] The amateur team continued independently as they were considered a separate club by the Rugby Football Union. ^[4]

History

London Welsh Amateur were founded in the 1990s after London Welsh reached the top of National League 1 and decided to split the club to separate the professional wing from the community club. ^[5] In 2004, London Welsh Amateur were incorporated as a limited company. ^[6] In 2017, London Welsh were expelled from the RFU Championship and later liquidated due to debt. ^[3] When London Welsh were given extra time for a phoenix company to take over the club and fulfill RFU regulations, one of the conditions was that they had to show a clear separation between London Welsh and London Welsh Amateur but were unable to meet the requirements. ^[3] Despite this decision, it did not affect London Welsh Amateur as they were held as having a separate membership of the RFU and separate voting rights. ^[7]

As a result, London Welsh Amateur became the primary representatives of the London Welsh club. They also stated that they would remain amateur despite inheriting the liquidated professional club's infrastructure. ^[2] For their first season since London Welsh's liquidation, London Welsh Amateur appointed former Welsh international Sonny Parker as director of rugby. ^[8] Following the professional side's liquidation, London Welsh Amateur adopted the London Welsh name. ^[2]

At the end of the 2017–18 season they finished as champions of Herts/Middlesex 1 and gained promotion to London 3 North West. ^[9]

After the 2019–20 season was abandoned due to the coronavirus outbreak, London Welsh finished as Champions of London 2 North West and were promoted to London 1 South for 2020–21 season, which was not played due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. Following the 31-17 victory away at Wimbledon, London Welsh confirm their 5th promotion in 7 seasons, completing 'Project Reset' and will return to the National Leagues for the first time in 2025-26 following the original club's liquidation in 2017.

Honours

• Herts/Middlesex 1 champions: 2017–18
• London 3 North West champions: 2018–19
• London 2 North West champions: 2019–20
• London 1 South runners-up (promoted): 2021–22
• Regional 1 South Central champions: 2024-25

See also

• London Scottish
• London Irish
• Rugby union in London

References

1. Neil Metcalfe. "Win over London Welsh helps UCSOB move forward in relegation battle". Hampstead & Highgate Express. Retrieved 2018-01-05.
2. "London Welsh unveils plan to return to professional rugby following RFU expulsion". Swlondoner.co.uk. 2017-05-10. Retrieved 2018-01-05.
3. "RFU refuses permission for London Welsh to stay in Championship". Ruck.co.uk. Retrieved 2018-01-05.
4. "Debt-ridden London Welsh rugby club formally enters liquidation". Your Local Guardian. 2016-12-29. Retrieved 2018-01-05.
5. "Information". London Welsh Amateur. 2015-06-26. Retrieved 2018-01-05.
6. "London Welsh Amateur Rugby Football Club Limited". Companies House. Retrieved 2018-01-05.
7. Anthony Woolford (2017-01-24). "London Welsh cease to exist as a professional club as RFU boots them out of the English Championship". Wales Online. Retrieved 2018-01-05.
8. "London Welsh target comeback but will start at same level as Oxford". Oxford Mail. Retrieved 2018-01-05.
9. Anthony Woolford (2017-07-26). "Here's what's become of London Welsh as they prepare to play the Bank of England in ninth tier of English rugby". Wales Online. Retrieved 2018-01-05.