Rotherham Get Their Just Desserts.

The English Premiership will have a new look about it next season with the news that Rotherham have had their promotion confirmed following a meeting of England Rugby Limited

The English Premiership will have a new look about it next season with the news that Rotherham have had their promotion confirmed following a meeting of England Rugby Limited, the body that runs the league. A statement issued by ERL said, ” The board of England Rugby Ltd. has confirmed that it has unaminously agreed that Rotherham rugby club has fully met the entry criteria and is therefore promoted to the Zurich Premiership for season 2003/04. The ERL board wishes the club a successful campaign next season.”

Rotherham were denied promotion last season because their ground was deemed below Premiership standard. This term they had secured the first division title almost a month ago but had to wait until now to learn if they would be promoted.

They will have to tackle the big boys of the Premiership without out-half Ramiro Pez their 24-year-old Italian who has made 14 international appearances in the last three years, has agreed to join Leicester Tigers after two years at the Yorkshire club.

Rotherham will replace Bristol who lost their place in the top flight following defeat to London Irish last weekend.
With debts of over #2m, and the prospect that their benefactor Malcolm Pearce is about to withdraw his funding, the future of this famous club looks particularly precarious. Talk of a merger with Bath now look unrealistic. Pearce is to hold a press conference tomorrow (Wednesday) to outline his plans for the future.