FUNDING FOR PREMIERSHIP RUGBY CLUBS

That this House notes the unfairness of the funding for rugby clubs from Premiership Rugby for newly-promoted clubs; further notes media reports that London Welsh RFC will receive just £1.5 million this season while other rugby teams will receive £4 million; further notes that together with other funding from Premiership Rugby, newly-promoted clubs will receive just 30 per cent of the funding received by established Premiership Rugby clubs; believes that this creates a huge financial disadvantage for promoted clubs; further notes that newly-promoted clubs in the top tier of French rugby receive additional financial help to be competitive; further believes that this unfair funding makes it extremely hard for newly-promoted clubs to compete with established clubs; and further notes that the UK and EU competition authorities should investigate Premiership Rugby to assess whether UK competition and anti-cartel rules are being broken.