A WORKINGTON rugby union team has had their dreams of playing at the home of rugby union dashed following an alleged ‘typo’ from the governing body of the sport.

Workington Zebra Finches RUFC secured a place in the final of the Papa John's Junior Cup, a National Junior Plate Final and the first national final for a team at Workington Zebra’s since the 1970’s at the start of the month, with the women and their coaches thinking all roads led to Twickenham.

However, after what promised to be a great day in the history of the club has been marred with disappointment, following correspondence from the RFU this week that the final would not be held at what many know as Rugby Union ‘HQ’.

The club and their opponents in the final Avonmouth Ladies say that all messaging regarding the final and the online booking system for people to get tickets had stated that the match would be held at Twickenham, leading to disappointment from the club and their opponents on the revelation this week from the Rugby Football Union that the incident had been down to a ‘typo’.

Head Coach Chris Davidson said: ““It’s an amazing achievement for them, you can appreciate how excited the team were and how much of a driver it has been for the team to get to the final.

“When I told them all before training it was like it sucked the air out of the team, there was some tears, just huge disappointment not to be going to the home of rugby.

“They are being pragmatic about it and they do realise it’s still a final but it’s lot of geeing up now.”

The club were first informed by their opponents in the final Avonmouth Ladies, that the match had been moved to former Worcester Warriors ground Sixways Stadium, leading officials and volunteers at the club to ‘do some digging’ into what was going on.

The coach said: “When we pushed the RFU they just said that it was a typo on the website.

“We are a hub for the RFU for women and girls’ rugby in the north but it feels like that has not been reciprocated.

“We would have liked and still are asking for an open conversation with the RFU on how they have reached their decision.”

The ladies will take on Avonmouth Ladies in the final over the weekend of 30th April/1st May, with the ladies aiming to fundraise to get down to the competition.

More on their fundraising can be found at the club’s Facebook page.

An RFU spokesperson said: “We congratulate Workington Zebras Finches and Avonmouth for reaching the Women’s Junior Plate Final and have been in touch with both clubs to apologise for the error that wrongly suggested the Junior Plate, rather than the Junior Cup Final, would be hosted at Twickenham Stadium. The Women’s Championship play-off, Women’s Intermediate Cup and Women’s Junior Cup Finals are scheduled to be held at Twickenham on Sunday 30 April.

“Sixways remains a fantastic finals venue, however we appreciate Workington Zebras Finches and Avonmouth players will have been incredibly excited at the thought of playing at Twickenham as the home of English Rugby. We have been working to find a solution for how to honour this opportunity on an alternative date and have let both clubs know we will be in touch when we have more information.”