London Welsh confirm move back to Old Deer Park

London Welsh have confirmed that they will return to their Old Deer Park ground in south-west London, leaving Oxford's Kassam Stadium, in time for the 2015/16 season.

After a disappointing Aviva Premiership season in which they scored just one point before being relegated, they will bring to an end a three-year spell at the Kassam Stadium.

"London Welsh will play at Old Deer Park but will continue to look at other facilities appropriate for hosting top level rugby," a statement from the club confirmed.

"The Club recognises and would like to thank the support of the Oxford rugby community and its followers, and sincerely hopes that our new Oxford fanbase will stay with the Club as it relocates back to Old Deer Park. They will certainly be made very welcome.
 
"London Welsh is moving after three seasons at the Kassam Stadium, including two seasons of playing in the Premiership.

"The Club now feels that its return to the Championship is a suitable point at which to make a move back to south-west London."

And London Welsh chairman Bleddyn Phillips believes the club has made a contribution to sport in Oxford and that the time is right to return to London.

"We have enjoyed a very exciting and challenging period in Oxford these past three years," he said.

"We have had successes on and off the pitch and yet we also need to recognise that perhaps the degree of support, both in terms of ground attendance and commercial sponsorship, may not have been quite as extensive as we might have hoped or wished for.
 
"We believe we have made a considerable contribution to the community in Oxfordshire, both in terms of local clubs and schools, and we feel privileged and pleased to have been able to make such contributions over the past three years to these communities in Oxfordshire.
 
"We now look forward to the next period in the Club’s history when we can build on the experiences of the past three years and take that forward with us as we return to south-west London."