The Rugby Football Union is set to block a request from London Irish to leave the English game and join the United Rugby Championship.
The west London club ended almost two years in administration this week when they were bought by a consortium led by the former Formula One team owner Eddie Jordan, whose ambition is to take the Exiles into the URC, the multinational league comprising teams from Ireland, Wales, Scotland, Italy and South Africa. Any move to leave England would have to be approved by the RFU, however, and multiple sources have indicated the governing body is unlikely to license them to compete in the URC. Under RFU rules, even a request to move fixtures to a different stadium requires the approval of the board, never mind relocating to a rival competition.
