OXFORD Harlequins RFC's ambitious plans for a Centre of Rugby Excellence in Oxford have had to be put on hold following their failure to obtain a lottery grant for the project, writes MICHAEL KNOX.

Quins, in conjunction with Oxford Brookes University and Oxford City Council, had applied for a lottery grant of £2.1m to fund the major development in Horspath Road.

But they learned last week that the application had failed.

"This is a huge disappointment for the team who have spent three years in the preparation and presentation of the case," said Harlequins' chairman Ron Macdonald.

"To be honest, it came as a bit of a surprise, as we thought we had pressed all the right butttons. We had navigated each milestone - this was the last one."

However, Macdonald remained defiant about the £2.6m project which would incorporporate a clubhouse and five pitches, across the road from Quins' existing facilties in Horspath. The original plans were for it to be in operation for next season.

"The Centre of Excellence is certainly not dead. We're totally committed to it," said Macdonald.

"We must review our contingency plans, which will have the same result but must be implemented over a longer period."

Robert Evans, chair of Oxford City Council's Leisure Services said: "We share Harlequins' disappointment, but Oxford is a great place for rugby and we will continue to support their efforts to get the Centre of Excellence established."

Macdonald said that the club were intending to appeal, "although I think this appication has run itself to a standstill."

Story date: Monday 08 February

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