THE biggest day in the history of Liskeard-Looe Rugby Club could be under threat.

The team has won through to the national final of the EDF Junior Vase which will be played at Twickenham, the home of English rugby.

The team, known as the Lions, beat Lowestoft and Yarmouth by 26 points to 19 in the semi-final of the competition at Lux Park on Saturday and is due to face Brighton in the final.

Supporters have been in a jubilant mood since the victory and had already begun planning for the big trip on Saturday, May 9.

And club officials and community leaders had been really upbeat about the team's success. But, yesterday (Thursday) came the bombshell news that the club has been charged by the Rugby Football Union (RFU) over some of the content in the semi-final matchday programme.

And the disciplinary process could lead to the club being kicked out of the final.

A statement from the RFU said: 'Liskeard-Looe RFC has been charged with two offences of conduct prejudicial to the interests of the Union or the Game.

'The charges relate to allegedly publishing profane, offensive and racially abusive content in the matchday programme of their EDF Energy Junior Vase semi-final against Lowestoft and Yarmouth on Saturday, March 21.

'The club has been summoned to appear before a Rugby Football Union disciplinary panel at the Bristol Filton Holiday Inn on Tuesday, March 31 (7pm). The panel will comprise chairman Christopher Quinlan, John Doubleday and Mike Curling.

'Rugby Union is an inclusive game for all and abhors any form of discrimination or abuse based on colour, creed, sex or sexual orientation or disability.

'The RFU takes very seriously any allegations of discrimination or abuse and will investigate them swiftly and take disciplinary action if appropriate.'

A spokeswoman for the RFU told the Cornish Times that the panel has the right to discipline the club as it sees necessary.

When asked if the club's appearance in the final was under threat, she said: 'It could be a scenario that happens if the club is found guilty'.

Club chairman Wes Pound said: 'The matter is being investigated in-house at the moment and until that is resolved we cannot say any more.'

The allegations are believed to relate to a jokes section in the programme.