Edinburgh Rugby were last night standing firm after being ordered to leave Murrayfield by the SRU.

The bitter row between the two parties reached a new low when the sport's governing body informed the club they must vacate the national stadium and its training facilities. And if Edinburgh fail to meet the SRU's demand to repay £1.4m in advance funding by the end of today, the last ties between them could soon be severed. The SRU insists Edinburgh have terminated their "operating agreement" but Edinburgh deny such an agreement has ever existed.

An SRU statement said: "Edinburgh Rugby no longer have any rights to play or train at Murrayfield and Scottish Rugby has asked when they plan to vacate the stadium.

"Scottish Rugby now requires immediate repayment of a proportion of the funding the governing body has advanced Edinburgh Rugby since July 2006.

"The deadline for this repayment, which amounts to almost £1.4m, is close of business on Friday, August 3."

Edinburgh owner Bob Carruthers rejected the SRU's eviction notice. He said: "The SRU are saying they will give us money if we liquidate the club. That would mean players on the dole and we don't want to do that."