Pontypool RFC landed £400k bill after court battle (From South Wales Argus)
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Pontypool RFC landed £400k bill after court battle
PONTYPOOL RFC has been landed with an estimated £400,000 legal costs bill after losing its High Court bid for reinstatement to the Premiership.
The club has fought valiantly for months against the Welsh Rugby Union's decision to drop it from a newly constituted 12-team top division.
But today, a senior judge said it would have been better for the club to have accepted an offer from the Union to allow it to drop its case weeks ago.
The offer would have meant Pontypool accepted it had to play in the Championship, but would not have had to pay the legal costs bills run up by the Union.
"Given the outcome of the action, it can now be said that Pontypool should have accepted the WRU's offer of 28th of May to drop hands,"
said Sir Raymond Jack.
WRU Lawyers estimated the costs of the case at about 400,000, with approximately 250,000 run up by the Union, which was represented in court by a top QC.
Prior to last month's hearing, Pontypool's backers had to give an assurance that they would be able to pay the Union's "reasonable"
costs if the judge ruled against the club.
But earlier today, it was revealed that the club's lawyers think there could still be a way that it can play in the Premiership in the 2012-13 season.
Barrister, Ian Rogers, said the fact that Carmarthen Quins has not yet secured a vital A-licence, relating to stadium facilities, put Pontypool in "pole position".
If Carmarthen is unable to obtain a licence, then the 12th and final place in the new Premiership could go to Pontypool, he told the High Court.
But the Union's barrister, Adam Lewis QC, disputed the claim, saying the planned new league was only increased from 10 to 12 teams to include Carmarthen and Bridgend specifically.
Sir Raymond said the case had not been easy for anyone and paid tribute to the club's legal team for making sure it was so "hard fought".
Comments (12)
17/07/12
Newport Dave says...
They already face a £400k costs bill, and now they want another court case.
If they lose that one as well, they'll probably end up with a total bill of close to three quarters of a million in costs.
They must be growing money on trees down at Pontypool Park.
17/07/12
b3talover says...
If only they had spent a fraction of that £400,000 on some decent players during the last 6 years... I doubt they would be in this situation if that had been the case...
17/07/12
dalesman1666 says...
17/07/12
Kevin Ward - Editor says...
You're quite wrong. We've had a reporter in the High Court today and the report above is entirely accurate.
WRU costs now estimated at £250k, Pontypool's £150k.
There was no previous agreement on the maximum amount of costs, only an offer of £115k from Pontypool to cover some of the WRU's costs to allow the case to be heard.
Final costs were never going to be decided until today's hearing.
17/07/12
gwyn wills says...
Came 12th in the premiership.
Have a supporter base
Raised unimagable amounts of cash in just 5 days and have now met the meritocracy criterion.
Still the WRU support ten men and a dog as the way forward for welsh rugby.
17/07/12
LSB Bee says...
17/07/12
Tall Pruner says...
That was all the support Pooler had from thier region :-)
18/07/12
CM1 says...
18/07/12
rhinestine says...
18/07/12
Newport Dave says...
They have no clubhouse of their own, the Union let it slide. They don't have an enclosed ground, the Union agreed to let them do something different as it's a public park and any Tom Dick or Harry could walk their dog or hamster through there at any time (just like Carmarthen Quins.
The harsh fact is that they turned down a get-out option back in May which would have cost them nothing and chose to fight on knowing the consequences of losing.
I thought Pooler would have a chance of winning it and was actually rooting for them. They've had their dance, now they have to pay the piper.
18/07/12
NakedDancer says...
Whilst the WRU were financially obliged to protect their finances during the case, they could rise above this by absorbing their court fees to allow Pontypool to survive - £250k isn't a lot of money for the WRU and if Pooler go bust the WRU won't get their money anyway.
18/07/12
CM1 says...
The judge allows the case to go to court, so you have to assume that he was happy that the cost were covered. The case goes to court and we are told that the costs are not necessarily covered.
The judge tells Pontypool that they should have accepted an 'offer' not to take the case to court, despite the fact that that was what he was determining relating to costs. Only goes to demonstrate two points; the law is an **** and owned by those with the money to buy it.
The WRU set up a system to decide a revamped premier league. This is to be based on meeting criteria and then results over a number of seasons. Pontypool meet the criteria by spending a significant amout of money on barriers, whist meeting health and safety regulations, at the behest of the WRU.
The WRU agree that Pontypool meet the criteria, whilst Carmarthen do not. The WRU's QC subsequently confirms that it doesn't matter that Carmarthen do not meet the criteria, as this was not relevant anyway.
What is there to say. If it was not so serious for one the founding clubs of rhe WRU, having contributed countless Welsh internationals and Lions, inspired generations to play the game, it would be hysterically funny!! However, I have followed this club man and boy and I am not laughing. Nor would I be laughing if this was Newport. In fact you never know, who will be next?