It is hard to understate the imprint that Rosslyn Park has left on English rugby. Every year it hosts the world’s largest schools sevens tournament, which has acted as launching pad for countless international players. During the season, it welcomes up to 1,200 children each week through its community programme.

Now, the club of Alexander Obolensky, Andy Ripley and Danny Cipriani is under serious threat from a classic case of British Nimbyism.

Rosslyn Park’s problems began when one of their floodlights was blown over in a storm in 2014. It was not the only thing that was falling apart at the Priory Lane ground, which had barely been refurbished since the club moved there in 1957, with the facilities...