IT MAY be the favourite watering hole of diehard football fans, but staff at The Priory pub say it is rugby supporters who have thrown them a vital lifeline.


The London Welsh Rugby Club will make its Premiership debut at the Kassam on Sunday, September 2.


The club will now share the stadium with Oxford United and pub landlord Tim Rackley said the news could not have come at a better time.
 

He said: “In all honesty, we were struggling. We were going to pack it all in.
“Our landlords were helpful, dropping the rent, and told us to stick it out. So we did and then the news came about the rugby. It is great for us.”


The pub now has a fixture board for both clubs and is in the process of buying in ales and beers, including Welsh Rugby sponsors Brains and London Pride, sponsors of London Welsh.
 

To demonstrate its ongoing commitment to Oxford United, the pub is now resplendent in yellow and blue.
 

Mr Rackley said: “We have been part of Oxford United for so long. We are sprucing the place up for the new season and wanted to show that.
 

“It’s a pity London Welsh play in red, as we can’t have any red in here with the Swindon connection. We’ll make it up to them in other ways.”


He said footfall had dropped in the pub recently. He said it has signed a new two-year lease with owner Firoka (Oxford Leisure) Ltd and hopes the arrival of rugby fans will mark a new stage in the pub’s life.


Oxfordshire County Council yesterday confirmed matchday parking restrictions on roads around the Kassam Stadium will also apply to days when London Welsh is playing.
 

Blackbird Leys Parish Council chairman Gordon Roper said: “Imposing the restrictions is a good thing because we don’t know what the crowds are going to be for London Welsh.
 

“So until we know how big they are, I think residents will welcome the restrictions.”


The news of the rugby club’s imminent arrival was also welcomed by other groups around the city.
 

Chairman of the Oxford Welsh Male Voice Choir, George Jenkinson, said: “It will be great to have first-class rugby in the city and the Welsh connection is a huge bonus.
 

“Many of our members are enthusiastic rugby fans and will be keen to continue attending matches.”
 

The group joined the rugby club’s choir at the Championship Final match at the Kassam in May, singing before the match, at half time and during the game itself.
 

Chairman of the London Welsh Supporters Club, Martin John, said: “It is a great stadium and everyone is looking forward to coming to Oxford.
“It will be a bit of a change but the fans are really up for it and I think the pub will be very popular with fans.”