BATH had their relegation fears wiped away yesterday as English rugby's rulers refused to grant Rotherham entry into the Zurich Premiership.

The controversial decision, announced by Rugby Football Union chief executive Francis Baron on behalf of English Rugby Limited, means even if Bath sink to the bottom of the league pile after Sunday's final round of matches their top-flight status is assured.

The decision renders Bath's final match against Wasps on Sunday meaningless Leeds and Saracens having also escaped while Rotherham will have to battle for promotion yet again.

An audit of the South Yorkshire side, who won the National League by a record margin, concluded they had not satisfied the 85 stringent criteria laid down to join the top table.

The main bone of contention centred around the decision to move from their Clifton Lane base to Millmoor, home of Rotherham United football team.

That ground-share agreement appeared to pave the way for elevation only for English Rugby Limited to insist that a club must be the primary tenants of their home ie landlords not tenants.

That led to accusations of double-standards, with both London Irish and Saracens being tenants of football grounds at Reading (Madejski Stadium) and Watford (Vicarage Road) respectively.

Even Bath rent their Recreation Ground home from the local council while Sunday's opponents Wasps are currently homeless after being forced out of QPR's' Loftus Road.

Meanwhile, Bath team director Michael Foley brushed aside the political goings-on, insisting his team were just concentrating on not finishing at the foot of the table.

He said: "Relegation aside, we want to be in control of our own destiny.

"The challenge for us is to make sure the recent poor performances are not repeated.''

Bath scrum-half Gareth Cooper and flanker Gavin Thomas have both been included in the Wales squad for Test matches against South Africa in Bloemfontein (June 8) and Cape Town (June 15).