Premiership: Promotion blow hits Doncaster Knights and Ealing Trailfinders

Championship duo Doncaster Knights and Ealing Trailfinders have had the promotion door to the Premiership closed after failing to meet minimum standards criteria.

The two clubs have come up short in the requirements as their respective home grounds are unable to hold at least 10,001 fans.

Covid recovery measures agreed by the Rugby Football Union council last June allowed for the Premiership to be expanded from 13 clubs to 14 at the end of the current season, enabling the winner of English rugby’s second tier to move up to the top flight.

Doncaster’s Castle Park stadium currently has a capacity of around 5,183, with 1,926 seats, while Ealing’s Trailfinders Sports Ground is able to hold approximately 5,000 spectators, with 2,115 seats.

According to the RFU, both clubs have suggested they could seek to expand their facilities, however no formal planning permissions are in place, while neither proposed ground-share arrangements in their applications.

“As a result, the independent audit has found that neither club has successfully met the minimum standards criteria based on capacity (as well as other factors),” read an RFU statement.

“The PGB (professional game board) therefore made a recommendation to RFU board that neither club could be promoted to the Premiership for the 22-23 season. The RFU board has ratified this decision.”

Doncaster currently top the Championship, with third-placed Ealing seven points below, albeit with two games in hand.

Both clubs are entitled to appeal against the decision through an independent arbitration process.

The decision leaves 11 teams in the second tier and therefore only the winner of National One will be promoted to the Championship for next season.

RFU chief executive Bill Sweeney