It’s clear why there’s little affinity for London Welsh

Looking at the Kassam Stadium he would find the home of Oxford United and – London Welsh?

Opeti Fonua struggles to keep hold of possession in a clash against Sale. 

When Oxford RFC went to play London Welsh at their ancestral home in Richmond on November 28, 1971, the first round of the Rugby Union Knock-out Championship competition (rugby’s equivalent of the FA Cup), they were met by arguably the best club side in the land at the time that contained, on the day, 11 internationals including six British Lions from the recent victorious New Zealand tour.

Fast forward 45 years and London Welsh have reached the pinnacle of English club rugby, the Premier League.

Circumstances dictate that the club now play in Oxford but things are not going well and the cynic in me suspects a little arrogance along the way.

Today’s letters

The Welsh hierarchy, having parachuted the club into the city rather like a visiting circus, expected instant support but offered little by way of affiliation with local supporters.

Now they complain about the lack of attendance at ‘home’ games but what could the chairman expect? A coach plucked from the depths of South Wales club rugby advocating South Wales rugby who, in turn, engages 25 new players at the start of the season which equates to numerous team changes on a weekly basis.

But, more than anything, a London side playing in Oxford, a club named ‘Welsh’ playing in England and a team playing in red when the English colour is white. Confusion?

The wider view is that it would be good to see top-class rugby prosper in the city but, for goodness sake, give us locals something to hold on to.

An obvious solution to start with would be to rename the club ‘Oxford Dragons’ or the like which, while retaining a slight Welsh overtone, might at least connect with rugby supporters in Oxford but, with these ‘dyed in the wool’ Welshmen, don’t hold your breath!

RICHARD TYRRELL

Banbury Road,

Kidlington