Richmond are celebrating regaining National League status - nine years after lurching towards possible extinction.

Club members raised £1.5million to ensure its survival after Richmond went into administration in 1999.

Financial backer Ashley Levett - his money had enabled Richmond to recruit players like Ben Clarke, Scott Quinnell and Allan Bateman - withdrew support, administration followed and the club was ejected from the Premiership.

They were relegated to league level nine (Herts/Middlesex One), but victory over Civil Service in London Division One yesterday means Richmond will play in National League Three (South) next season.

Formed in 1861, Richmond are one of the Rugby Football Union's founder members.

Club chairman David Corben said: "Realistically, we are aiming for National Two, and we will take a view if, and when, we achieve that, taking into account what is happening in the world of rugby.

"What is important to us is that we retain the community spirit of the club which enabled it to survive in the first place.

"We want to retain Richmond as a club playing as close as we can to those principals at all levels - men's, women's, youth, minis and veterans."

And finance director Peter Moore added: "We do not want to repeat the pattern of relying on one or two sources to pay significant wage bills.

"This is a club that was saved by its own community, and ever since we started back on the road to recovery we have tried to make sure we never forget that is precisely who the club is for."

Richmond came out of administration in 2002, and during the fightback to National League level they set an English record of 83 successive wins.

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