Team Solent has been forced to pull out of the Snows Group Hampshire League.

The student side has been struggling to field a team since the start of the season and officials decided to call it a day after handing four games to their opponents.

An exodous of players just weeks before the start of the season meant Solent had to cancel their first game against Millbrook.

They then failed to get a squad together for their trip to Bognor in October.

Solent thought they had turned the corner in November when they brought in a new coach and assistant coach and started to string some decent results together.

However, they were forced to give leaders US Portsmouth a walkover last month after being unable to assemble a squad for a home match, and again could not field a team to travel to Fareham Heathens just before Christmas.

Secretary and club stalwart for 18 years, Matt Bishop, said they expected to be thrown out of the league by the RFU and were left with little alternative.

He said: “I’m disappointed for other teams in the league but it was the only decision we could make.”

Solent moved into the Hampshire leagues four years ago and quickly moved up to Hampshire 1 – winning the Merit League in year one, Hampshire 2 the following season before making a flying start to life in Hampshire 1.

They won seven from seven and ended that campaign fifth.

But the exit of around a dozen players – who moved to other clubs or out of the area after finishing university – just weeks before the current season, meant coaches had too few players to choose from.

Bishop added: “It’s a massive disappointment for myself.

“I started the team up with good intentions and with an idea of what I wanted to do four years ago.

“Up until last season we were competitive in most games.”

Bishop said teams not fulfilling three fixtures are normally hauled before the RFU so missing a fourth in December spelt out the club’s future in the Hampshire League.

The students intend to carry on playing in the British University College Sport League.

He added: “If I had not said ‘enough is enough’ I think we would have been kicked out anyway. That would have been more negative.

“I intend to sit down and write to each of the clubs this week to explain and apologise.”