LONDON Welsh will stay at Oxford’s Kassam Stadium next season, the club announced tonight.

The Exiles considered a number of options after being relegated from the Aviva Premieship, including playing at Iffley Road or returning to Richmond.

But the Championship club will now continue to share the Kassam Stadium with Oxford United as they seek to build support and profile in the city.

London Welsh chairman Bleddyn Phillips said: "We are delighted that we will be playing our home games in the Championship at the Kassam Stadium which proved such a very good base for our team and supporters last season.

"We have learned much from our first season playing in the Oxford area and we very much want to continue that relationship and extend and deepen the ties we have already established here.

"We have learned much over the past year not only in terms of how the stadium works and operates but also how to develop and build upon our relationship with our co-tenants, Oxford United FC.

"We have a very good rapport with the football club and we very much want to strengthen the links between us - including (very importantly) ensuring the pitch is maintained to a high standard.

"In particular, we are looking forward to deepening our work and commitment with the local communities - not only in the schools but also with the clubs in the Oxfordshire area.

"Higher educational establishments represent another area in which we are looking forward to working with more and in particular we look forward to the possibility of providing coaching and skills training to the Dark Blues.

"Finally, I should like to thank and pay tribute to our loyal and traditional fan base from Old Deer Park who have been tremendously supportive throughout. We will do all we can to encourage that support and reward them, and of course all our followers, with success on the pitch.

"Our spate of recent player signings and the appointments of Justin and Gordon demonstrates that our ambitions off the field, through re-engaging at the Kassam, are matched by our on the field plans to continue to play in the top flight of English club rugby."