London Irish Rugby Club Faces Winding Up Petitions from UK Tax Authority, Putting Financial Stability at Risk

The club has been struggling to meet financial obligations and faced a deadline of June 6th to demonstrate a takeover by an American consortium or show that they have the necessary funding to continue operations through the 2023-2024 season.

According to documents filed at London's High Court, HMRC has applied to wind up London Irish Holdings Ltd, as well as two other related companies.

The UK Rugby Football Union (RFU) granted the club an extra week to provide evidence of the takeover or financial stability.

In a statement, the RFU said that if the club failed to meet the June 6th deadline, they would be suspended, becoming the third Premiership club to be expelled after Wasps and Worcester were subject to winding up orders from HMRC late last year.

Players and staff received half their May salaries this week, with a promise that the shortfall would be made up.

However, the RFU added a stipulation that the club must also fulfill its contractual obligations to its employees by paying the May salaries in full.

An HMRC spokesperson said that they could not comment on the individual case, but noted that they take a supportive approach to dealing with customers with tax debts and only file winding-up petitions once all other options have been exhausted to protect taxpayers' money.

London Irish has not yet commented on the matter.

Reuters, Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.