Always a Wasp
General Category => Wasps Rugby Discussion => Topic started by: COYW15 on May 18, 2023, 05:08:08 PM
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https://twitter.com/alexmlowe/status/1659227935914557441?s=46&t=uqL3_JPW8PntNGwES-NjpA
Breaking - Wasps have had their Championship licence revoked and demoted to the bottom of the English rugby league pyramid
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No surprise.
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Confirmed by RFU. That?s it then game over, also no way rugby creditors will now be paid.
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From Mail -
Wasps' licence to play in the Championship next season has been revoked, it has been confirmed.
The move comes after little progress was made in paying creditors and their recruitment plans going forward following a turbulent time off the field.
A statement read: 'The Rugby Football Union (RFU) has withdrawn the licence for Wasps to continue to play in the league structure. This means that Wasps will not be able to play in the Championship next season.
'In order to be sure that Wasps were in a position to play in the Championship, the RFU set a deadline for the club to meet the commitments it had made when the licence was first approved and recommit to participating in the Championship in 2023/24.
'These included evidencing payment to Rugby Creditors and putting in place suitable governance structures including a majority independent Board and process for managing risk. The RFU was also concerned about the lack of progress engaging coaching staff and players.
'The club stated that it could not meet these commitments, recommit to participating in the Championship in 2023/24 or engage staff of players until further finance was secured.'
Full story to follow.
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Wasps demoted to bottom of English rugby's pyramid
Wasps have had their licence withdrawn by Rugby Football Union and cannot compete in the Championship
By Charles Richardson, Rugby Reporter 18 May 2023 ? 5:27pm
Wasps have been demoted to the bottom of English rugby's league pyramid and will not compete in the Championship next season after the Rugby Football Union withdrew the club's licence on Thursday.
The RFU had set Wasps a deadline to meet the commitments the club had made when the licence was first approved in February when the governing body confirmed that the two-time European champions would be participating in the Championship in 2023/24.
Wasps, however, have stated that unless further finance was secured it could not meet these commitments and, therefore, could not recommit to participating in the Championship in 2023/24. The West Midlands club, which played out of Coventry's Ricoh Arena after moving from High Wycombe in 2014, will now have to restart from the bottom of the league pyramid.
"The RFU had worked with the club?s new owners to give the club the best chance of continuing in the league structure and recognises the effort the new owners have put in to try to make this happen," read a statement from English rugby's governing body. "However, the RFU Board decided that in order to give certainty to other clubs, the licence to continue to play is withdrawn."
Telegraph Sport understands that preparations are now under way to plan for a 12-team Championship next season, with 11 sides in the Gallagher Premiership and 23 competing in the Premiership Rugby Cup. The RFU has set London Irish a deadline of May 30 to prove it is on a sound financial footing - either with a takeover or otherwise - or the Exiles will be relegated from English rugby's top flight.
Earlier this month, Wasps owner Chris Holland had made a loan to new Worcester Warriors owners Atlas to help secure a lease to play Championship rugby at Sixways from next season onwards. With Thursday's news from the RFU, that plan is seemingly now dead in the water.
Holland is also the current owner of the club's state-of-the-art training ground in Henley-in-Arden, which is currently occupied by Birmingham City. The long-term future of that training facility remains to be seen, however.
RFU chief executive, Bill Sweeney, said: ?This is not the outcome anyone in rugby wanted and all those involved with the club will be deeply disappointed. We have worked with the new owners for the past six months to try to ensure that a robust plan could be put in place for the club to continue to play in the Championship while players and staff could receive monies owed to them. ?The RFU is working closely in partnership with Premiership Rugby and the Rugby Players Association to ensure players are supported. We are also working together at pace to ensure the game emerges from this challenging time on a strong and sound financial footing.?
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Oh well, back to just being a rugby fan.
A big thanks to all those who tried, your efforts are appreciated.
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I've been sent this from Scrivs to be shared and is also online here (https://www.wasps.co.uk/club-announcement):
WASPS STATEMENT
Our exit from the Rugby Football Union
It has been an all-consuming 7 months since the 17th of October 2022. Our first task was to save and secure the brand, the IP, and the legend ? and in that we have been successful. Since then, we have been constantly involved in the resurrection of the club with the intention of competing in the 2023 RFU Championship.
Operating in a void between regulatory authorities that were managed by strict governance requirements, and a championship that had not been engaged in our membership and who, perhaps understandably, offered some resentment to our inclusion, has been challenging.
Our recovery to date has been managed by a very small team who have been dealing with the operational and financial issues and requirements of the RFU and PRL since our engagement in November 2022 when we were successful in the approval process to enter the RFU Championship in September 2023. That approval was subject to initial and then continuing requirements around financing, ground, rugby creditors and the demanding governance provisions. During our approval process, and since, we have continually reminded the RFU that we would not repeat the mistakes of the past by allowing a single point of failure, and that we would not commit to any employment or contract unless we were sure that
we would be able to fund the expenditure for the season.
We have embarked on a wide ranging, and professional search, for suitable funding. From the outset we had interest from various sources who engaged in their own due
diligence, some in depth to the extent that they had direct contact with the governing bodies. Whilst the investment interest continues, we regret to say that the current state of rugby finances, the lack of clarity on the league structure and concerns over promotion has caused the investor group to remain silent and fatigued.
On two occasions we asked the RFU for an extension of time to secure funding and to satisfy the rugby creditors. Our requests were refused on both occasions. Whilst we understand the need for regulatory conformity and the administration of the league, the only reason we needed that extension was for the RFU to establish a clear vision and direction of travel so that our investor pool were able to see equitable funding for the Championship and a clear pathway to promotion.
Indeed, the recent revelations around the possible ring fencing of the premiership for 3 to 5 years to protect it has further weakened our investment position. There is the suggestion that a route for promotion could exist with a play-off between the bottom of the premiership playing the winner of the Championship. Given there is a deficit of ?4m+ in funding between the Premiership and the Championship, then the only route of promotion includes the very problem of excessive funding that perpetuates the business system failure.
We had made progress in certain areas though. We have a kit deal, significant sponsorship from a global brand, and a choice of grounds to play at. We have 232 players and 37 coaches available to select a team from. We have also identified strong local authority support for our own stadium, and whilst some have criticised us for even considering a new stadium option, their rush to judgement ignores the stark reality that rugby at the higher levels needs supplementary income to survive without owner funding - which is the single point of failure we are determined to avoid. Rugby alone will not provide a sustainable business, until it is properly governed and financially supported.
The arrangements and direction regarding the rugby creditors has also been troublesome. We were handed the responsibility of others to identify, validate, audit, and settle the rugby creditor claims inherited from the previous administration. We established a system to manage this process and acknowledged our moral obligations to complete it.
Following our regrettable exit from the Championship, our understanding is that the rugby creditors will now revert back to the administrators for the claims to be pursued against Wasps Holdings Limited (In Administration). We will work with the administrators on this.
So, what will happen now?
The journey continues with utter determination and commitment to ensure that WASPS continues its 156-year history in a sustainable rugby environment that shares the vision
and values that the new club aspires to. We are extremely grateful for the loyal support and concern from our global fan base.
Our silence has been deliberate and necessary. Firstly, we had nothing definitive to say that couldn?t have changed the following day, and often did, and secondly, we only recovered our social media accounts and rebuilt a new web site in the first week of May. You will hear more from us soon.
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I said this would happen only this morning on the WW forum.
Holland will sell the Henley site, likely to Birmingham FC, or to a developer (or maybe develop it for housing himself).
Between them, Holland & Atlas will sort out that loan (as it falls due in a couple days), Sixways will be left to rot until the planning people allow it to be redeveloped.
Professional Wasps is no more.
It is the unintended consequence of the rugby creditors rule. It guarantees rugby creditors will not be paid and the club will die with no prospect of return.
Who is next for the RFU/PRL train wreck? Irish have but a few days ... Newcastle ??? Then Tigers?? How long before those Bozos that are in charge wake up?
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On reflection, Wasps could still play from Henley. They could apply to join a local league, then play a side that is too strong for those teams. The RFU has discretion to move teams up if they are too strong for their league. Locally, in Henley, it is not 10 leagues down. There isn't anything down there. It is much higher up.
Maybe they could see who of those hundreds of players, and coaches wants to give it a go. It would be a lot cheaper, for sure.
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Wasps statement on twitter
https://twitter.com/WaspsRugby/status/1659238199883857928?t=QZdxJkjj3aANSv2ZeoOVog&s=19
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Looks like there?s some bitterness at the way they?ve been treated by the RFU who put them in a catch 22 position: expecting Wasps to get funding commitments whilst they dithered over deciding the overall direction of rugby and promotion in to the PRL.
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Well we were all hoping it wouldn't happen, while knowing it probably would.
Thanks to those who tried.
My immediate feelings are summed up in the quote from Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy "So long and thanks for all the fish"
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Looks like there?s some bitterness at the way they?ve been treated by the RFU who put them in a catch 22 position: expecting Wasps to get funding commitments whilst they dithered over deciding the overall direction of rugby and promotion in to the PRL.
Not a surprise but perhaps should have been anticipated.
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I wonder if they will start over at Henley? It would be way cheaper. I mean, a huge amount cheaper. If they got a team together, mainly recruited from 18+ years PRL Academy players who got dumped by various teams and have no other team, get a decent coaching setup. It wouldn't cost too much.
Get moving on the stadium anyway. The RFU might let them join maybe Counties 3 Midlands West (South), one up from the absolute bottom. The bottom league is mainly second teams, and the RFU has allowed new teams to jump up like that. The league I mentioned is one team down anyway (or it was this year), with only 11 teams.
5 years of winning would put them two years away from the Championship. I have a feeling an 8 team PRL will be locked until at least then, and maybe forever.
Financing it gets easier that way.
I wonder if Atlas will stump up the loan Holland gave them? They have a few days. Or will he have to foreclose on Sixways, and sell it for development?
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Yep. The end. A sad day. Great effort from those that put their time in for nothing but it was always a stretch. We won?t be the last, the game is in ruins and I have zero desire to watch it in the future.
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BT (or TNT now) will lose a few but doubt they are worried.
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'Exit from the RFU' so where to - the IRFU?
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A level of disappointment with this outcome and with the RFU who seem to have contributed to where we are now and their attitude seemed to have meant what little chance there was, was crushed. And that the likely outcome is as others have suggested, a diminishing Prem and England rugby looking increasingly lacking a future.
Whilst I've not been able to go to many games recently - it's still a disappointment as I've chosen to watch Wasps and their players all the way back to the late 70s. Seeing those players for Wasps and in Divisional games. I identified as a Wasp in Australia in '87 during the first RWC and was able to watch England train at Sydney Uni at lunch time. And look out for the Wasps like my hero, Jeff Probyn amongst 6 Wasps in the squad.
It means I'm now "just" a rugby fan. But the motivation to watch games will be much harder.
Have a good evening all - off for a pint.
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What division does the amateur Wasps F.C. play in?
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I have wonderful memories from our Wasp days, however I felt the loss of our club when it initially folded, not now.
This feels like the right decision for me. We are rightly starting from the lowest level. Weirdly I am pleased as too many great historic clubs such as Richmond, Rugby, Coventry were given no truck when professionalism came and nor should we.
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I have wonderful memories from our Wasp days, however I felt the loss of our club when it initially folded, not now.
This feels like the right decision for me. We are rightly starting from the lowest level. Weirdly I am pleased as too many great historic clubs such as Richmond, Rugby, Coventry were given no truck when professionalism came and nor should we.
Yep. London scottish as well. Its 100 percent possible with patience and the right backing and support.
I doubt you'll ever see a prpfessional wasps club in yhe premiership again but if they can do what those clubs did they might actually find themselves becoming a properly sustainable community club at an appropriate level.
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I have a different kind of sadness at this decision.
My sadness at Wasps going has been and gone, my sadness now is that, in my opinion, the RFU have made the process of Wasps' return (at the time) difficult at a time when the integrity of the league is questionable at best. I accept Wasps weren't angels and it was them who put the club in this position in the first place. Therefore, my feelings towards the sport entirely has had a massive hit. I'll probably not really bother with English rugby, other than my local grassroots club, again.
I'll probably find a club in the Top 14 to follow, likely Pau as that's where Dobby is.
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I'll probably find a club in the Top 14 to follow, likely Pau as that's where Dobby is.
I was thinking of doing the same. A far better product than Premiership Rugby.
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I'll probably find a club in the Top 14 to follow, likely Pau as that's where Dobby is.
I was thinking of doing the same. A far better product than Premiership Rugby.
Yep and not covered by BT.
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Agreed. There's very little in English rugby that appeals any more.
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Can't really put into words my thoughts on the whole series of events.
A real sadness. A complete lack of motivation to watch any rugby.
Hope everyone is well and I wish everyone all the best for the future.
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I could easily put my feelings into words but I fear I'd get banned.
I say "FU" to the RFU. They are acting as undertakers to the professional game in this country.
There will no doubt be self-aggrandising comments emanating from HQ about how they did everything within their power to help us, but when a man accused of murder protests his innocence whilst holding a kmife dripping with blood it's hard to accept it at face value.
Wasps did more for the RFU than the RFU did for Wasps, and in return we got shafted.
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Agreed. There's very little in English rugby that appeals any more.
Completely where I am. I?ve cancelled BT sport.
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Nothing for me, I am afraid. I wish death to Tigers, because their fans are by and large with few honourable exceptions, arseholes and scum with a topping of tossers on top who have relished our demise.
If English club rugby dies and takes them with it then it will almost have been worth it, and I can't even wish Ex Wasps any success there.
I hope the rest survive, Sarries excepted because they still have not been adequately punished rather than anything their fan base have done.
Either way it will be without me.
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Agreed. There's very little in English rugby that appeals any more.
The one sided nature of the semi final results says it all to me. As a neutral I want to watch a contest not a procession where the outcome is known what?s the point of watching? If the semi finals can?t produce a good contest there is something wrong.
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I've been sent this from Scrivs to be shared and is also online here (https://www.wasps.co.uk/club-announcement):
WASPS STATEMENT
Our exit from the Rugby Football Union
It has been an all-consuming 7 months since the 17th of October 2022. Our first task was to save and secure the brand, the IP, and the legend ? and in that we have been successful. Since then, we have been constantly involved in the resurrection of the club with the intention of competing in the 2023 RFU Championship.
Operating in a void between regulatory authorities that were managed by strict governance requirements, and a championship that had not been engaged in our membership and who, perhaps understandably, offered some resentment to our inclusion, has been challenging.
Our recovery to date has been managed by a very small team who have been dealing with the operational and financial issues and requirements of the RFU and PRL since our engagement in November 2022 when we were successful in the approval process to enter the RFU Championship in September 2023. That approval was subject to initial and then continuing requirements around financing, ground, rugby creditors and the demanding governance provisions. During our approval process, and since, we have continually reminded the RFU that we would not repeat the mistakes of the past by allowing a single point of failure, and that we would not commit to any employment or contract unless we were sure that
we would be able to fund the expenditure for the season.
We have embarked on a wide ranging, and professional search, for suitable funding. From the outset we had interest from various sources who engaged in their own due
diligence, some in depth to the extent that they had direct contact with the governing bodies. Whilst the investment interest continues, we regret to say that the current state of rugby finances, the lack of clarity on the league structure and concerns over promotion has caused the investor group to remain silent and fatigued.
On two occasions we asked the RFU for an extension of time to secure funding and to satisfy the rugby creditors. Our requests were refused on both occasions. Whilst we understand the need for regulatory conformity and the administration of the league, the only reason we needed that extension was for the RFU to establish a clear vision and direction of travel so that our investor pool were able to see equitable funding for the Championship and a clear pathway to promotion.
Indeed, the recent revelations around the possible ring fencing of the premiership for 3 to 5 years to protect it has further weakened our investment position. There is the suggestion that a route for promotion could exist with a play-off between the bottom of the premiership playing the winner of the Championship. Given there is a deficit of ?4m+ in funding between the Premiership and the Championship, then the only route of promotion includes the very problem of excessive funding that perpetuates the business system failure.
We had made progress in certain areas though. We have a kit deal, significant sponsorship from a global brand, and a choice of grounds to play at. We have 232 players and 37 coaches available to select a team from. We have also identified strong local authority support for our own stadium, and whilst some have criticised us for even considering a new stadium option, their rush to judgement ignores the stark reality that rugby at the higher levels needs supplementary income to survive without owner funding - which is the single point of failure we are determined to avoid. Rugby alone will not provide a sustainable business, until it is properly governed and financially supported.
The arrangements and direction regarding the rugby creditors has also been troublesome. We were handed the responsibility of others to identify, validate, audit, and settle the rugby creditor claims inherited from the previous administration. We established a system to manage this process and acknowledged our moral obligations to complete it.
Following our regrettable exit from the Championship, our understanding is that the rugby creditors will now revert back to the administrators for the claims to be pursued against Wasps Holdings Limited (In Administration). We will work with the administrators on this.
So, what will happen now?
The journey continues with utter determination and commitment to ensure that WASPS continues its 156-year history in a sustainable rugby environment that shares the vision
and values that the new club aspires to. We are extremely grateful for the loyal support and concern from our global fan base.
Our silence has been deliberate and necessary. Firstly, we had nothing definitive to say that couldn?t have changed the following day, and often did, and secondly, we only recovered our social media accounts and rebuilt a new web site in the first week of May. You will hear more from us soon.
Thare some very telling statements in this announcements. From these, it is easy to deduce that the RFU have acted like a load of Knuts.
In addition, I detect that Scrivs and the team are by no means throwing in the towel. Far from it. As the statement says, You will hear more from us soon.
Alternative competion to play in?
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Our exit from the Rugby Football Union
You will hear more from us soon
That was my line of thinking Heathen. Seems to be a very deliberate choice of words. But I shan't get my hopes up.
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Agreed, when your investors don't have the RFU or Prem rugby to deal with anymore, but a different body/league (can it be anything but URC?) then maybe they'll be more interested in putting the money in. Ealing we're rumoured to be looking at URC too weren't they?
The Wasps announcement does only say no more RFU after all.
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Is there a precedent for World Rugby to allow a team from one rugby jurisdiction to play in another jurisdiction without the explicit approval of their home jurisdictions' rugby authority approval, or even with it?
I can't see the RFU allowing it so maybe Wasps will have to move to the jurisdiction they want to play in.
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Our exit from the Rugby Football Union
You will hear more from us soon
That was my line of thinking Heathen. Seems to be a very deliberate choice of words. But I shan't get my hopes up.
We heard nothing from them for months, doubt we will hear something soon. I just can?t believe how shambolic the previous board, the current board and the rfu have acted. None of them have a clue and shame on them for not realising that
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Agreed, when your investors don't have the RFU or Prem rugby to deal with anymore, but a different body/league (can it be anything but URC?) then maybe they'll be more interested in putting the money in. Ealing we're rumoured to be looking at URC too weren't they?
The Wasps announcement does only say no more RFU after all.
We couldn't muster up the funds to play in the Championship. Any hope of top level rugby has gone. As for an alternative competition (requiring large sums of money to appear out of thin air and RFU approval) - that's just pure fantasy. Wasps died yesterday. Let us rest in peace.
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Do the rugby creditors include the players ie. Brad mentioning being owed a few 100k in image rights?
I imagine Launchbury and a few others would fall into that catergory as well.
Wages might have been seen as an unavoidable loss at the time but the image rights would be big big money for rugby players and as Brad said , a big contribution to his retirement pot.
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Just.... bollocks, aye?
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Do the rugby creditors include the players ie. Brad mentioning being owed a few 100k in image rights?
Yes. No one has quantified the extent of Wasps rugby creditors, but I would be surprised if it did not run to ?10-20m, of the ?90-100m total debt. Not having to pay that will relieve that pressure on the club.
My view is that size of debt would have been yet another millstone that would have eventually dragged the club down again.
In order for any team to start again, they are treated by the RFU as an entirely new club. As such, before you can apply, you must have a ground (Henley would do I guess), some facilities (toilets, changing rooms), coaches and medics, and a team (at least 23 players of the required mix). Wasps should have sorted all that ages ago on the basis that they would have to start again. Could be totally amateur, or at least expenses based payments. The team would have had to have played some 'friendly' games with local clubs, likely some that are in the league they want to join, to show they are playing at the right level. Initially that would be the bottom most league in your area. The RFU would check all this over, talk to the clubs in that league, and would, all things being equal, let you join the next year. All sorts of stuff gets checked, so it can take months. If they decide your team is too good for that league, and with the agreement of the clubs in that league, they might ask you to play some more friendlies against clubs in the next league up, and might allow you in to that one. Had Wasps started that process back in November, as a back stop, they might now be in a position to rejoin the league system. As it is, there is no chance to start that now ready for next season. But, the RFU can make it up as they go along. That is the process, I think. The statement from Wasps suggests that they might now be considering this. Better get their skates on is all I can say.
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Not sure how Wasps can seriously set up a side for Midlands Counties 4 or whatever.
Why would any amateur player want to join when they would already be playing for a club with their own ground, club house, history, mins & juniors & a place in a community?
Sadly I think this will be it & Wasp name will continue only under the Wasps FC banner. All things considered its probably the best option now.
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Having talked to several former players the impression I get is that they needed to find ?2.75million in image rights payments alone. Who is going to put that up as a "loss leader" to start a "company" that is subject to such vagaries as being involved with the PRL/RFU. Only billionaires who want a loss making ego project as a way to avoid paying money to the tax man.
One plus (if anything in the current situation can be referred to as a plus) is that they are under no obligation to remain in the Midlands, so can legitimately return to the London area.
In my view the best thing would be to re-unite with Wasps RFC and use the current first team as a basis for the push upwards, saving 3 or 4 seasons :(
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So whats assets do "Wasps" now have?
The EPIC is owned by a Chris Holland. They no longer have a place in any league. I assume its just the badge (that no one likes!) & the memorabilia?
Even stuff like kit & tackle pads etc would have been part of the old club (even Paulo & Jacobs now famous away kit!).
My point is that Wasps now no longer really exist do they?
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Not sure how Wasps can seriously set up a side for Midlands Counties 4 or whatever.
Why would any amateur player want to join when they would already be playing for a club with their own ground, club house, history, mins & juniors & a place in a community?
Sadly I think this will be it & Wasp name will continue only under the Wasps FC banner. All things considered its probably the best option now.
I cannot see the amateur club wanting to get involved. I wouldn't if I was them. They are quite happy where they are, and have no pretensions of grandeur.
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So whats assets do "Wasps" now have?
The EPIC is owned by a Chris Holland. They no longer have a place in any league. I assume its just the badge (that no one likes!) & the memorabilia?
Even stuff like kit & tackle pads etc would have been part of the old club (even Paulo & Jacobs now famous away kit!).
My point is that Wasps now no longer really exist do they?
They haven't since that last game. The club is what Holland and the other 'Legends' want, plus its fans, such as they are. In effect, the RFU have licked whatever plans Holland & Co had in the nuts, leaving them free to do what they want. Throw in the towel, cash in any any remaining assets via a sale, and walk away. Or start again, maybe using EPIC as the starting point.
Some have said that there are no players out there, as they will already be playing. That is not necessarily true. There are a lot of youngsters (18-24) who have no place to play. Some of them will be very good players, with no delusions of fame, just a desire to play. The academy players from Worcester and Wasps to start. And all the academy players who are being dumped by the remaining PRL clubs, and ones who were dumped last year, and maybe before that. Let me give an example. Will Goodrick-Clarke was an academy player at Gloucester. They dumped him because they either had no room in the main squad, or they thought he wasn't good enough. Richmond signed him. From there to London Irish, where he has been in the first team since. Launchbury was much the same. The game is littered with such examples. We are not looking for Prem level players either. Just ones who will more than compete at that bottom level.
In the past there were a few such players here and there. Now there are a load of them. Every club is shedding players. And maybe more if Falcons and Irish go the way of others. Pay isn't the issue. Opportunity is. Accommodation can be found, as can jobs or education courses.
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Rather than growing the game the RFU and PRL are shrinking it at an alarming rate, both pro and amateur.
I fear that Irish's takeover will fail for the same reason that Wasps couldn't get investors over the line and Atlas's American backers backed out. I doubt that any of the current prem club owners would be there if they had to be under the same financial scrutiny as any potential new owners. As it stands I doubt anyone will be able to sell a professional rugby club so they had better have deep pockets.
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Stephen Jones tweeted that another club will likely go within a week.
Also Wasps quoted 232 players and 37 coaches available which I would suggest is based on actual numbers made jobless in recent times.
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Also Wasps quoted 233 players and 37 coaches available which I would suggest is based on actual numbers made jobless in recent times.
I was always confident that there were the players available.
So sad that many of them won't get a chance to make it.
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I am not suggesting there no players available, but how many of those Prem or Champ quality players will want to play level 10 rugby against some local grassroots clubs 3rd team for no money?
Be realistic, any player that is available will be looking for, in this order:
1. A paid job in a pro side
2. a semi-pro job
3. amateur, but with some expenses in a nat 1 or 2 side
4. county 1 level, but in a side thats organised & looking towards the future
5. any lower & a pretence of a career in rugby is out the window & its then about playing for a club you know, maybe where your mates play or where you played as a junior.
Level 10 rugby is VERY poor quality, any club playing at that level is doing it for fun & enjoyment & nothing else.
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Pudsey
@WaspsKitMan
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58m
It?s not the end, not even close. I am proud to have worked with some wonderful players, staff and others here. Keep the faith. Once a Wasp Always a Wasp 💔. Anyone up for some old school Pudsey after Crackerjack ? #everykitmanknows.
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Stephen Jones tweeted that another club will likely go within a week.
Also Wasps quoted 232 players and 37 coaches available which I would suggest is based on actual numbers made jobless in recent times.
To be fair Stephen Jones also wrote an article about the crowds at this week's London 7s last week
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I find all this hard to come to terms with still. Waiting and hoping the legends would be able to resurrect the club has been torturous for many I think. It's a sad day when such a great club in English sport, its fans, players and staff and reputation are victims of a raft of ill conceived plans and dreadful mis-management on all fronts.
What galls me even more is that I'm sure CCFC fans will see this as a fantastic week - reaching the play off final and Wasps finally going out of existence as a pro club. All I wanted was to support my local pro rugby club and was lucky enough to enjoy some amazing success on top of the bad times.
From "mission accomplished' in Dubai/UAE or wherever it was, to the Booker Airfield and then on to Coventry, we've been lead a merry dance by whoever had a fantasy plan for success. We'll probably never know the full story, the machinations on the various boards, but as things stand right now moving the club to the Midlands failed and was a ridiculous idea (I still believe the club was used to get the stadium), making too many enemies in the process. It never felt right to me although I stuck with it, and I think in the absence of more information, Derek has to take the blame for this. If he really loved the club he would have helped the Legends (maybe he did?) and not veto'd the rescue package that the board were in favour of. It feels like the club and fans were picked up, kicked around for a bit and then booted into touch.
That's blame that has to be apportioned to the club itself. All this happened in an environment of cheating, with Saracens running riot for years with their undermining of the pro game and scamming their fellow professionals, and their toxicity has been allowed to damage the English pro game beyond repair. It's been allowed by an incompetent RFU and PRL boards, where if there was any dignity the CEO's would have resigned following the outcome of the DCMS enquiry. Covid clearly had an impact to a degree but has been casually waved away by these fools and their mignons, and quite who is calling the shots no know really knows, but it's a good bet it's not the people paid to ensure the health of the game. On top of that, Gob Baxter and his club who most benefitted from a competitive Prem and promotion/relegation, now wants to close that opportunity and pathway to anyone else, and seems to have an overt influence over the powers that run the game.
This lot put their own interests over everything and it's resulted in English rugby becoming a basket case - all about exclusivity rather than inclusivity. The pro game is rotten.
RIP Wasps and thanks for the memories.
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I am not suggesting there no players available, but how many of those Prem or Champ quality players will want to play level 10 rugby against some local grassroots clubs 3rd team for no money?
Wasps RFC aren't going to have a new team at level 10 or any RFU competition. The subtitle of the Wasps final statement yesterday makes that fairly obvious.
Plus it'd be stepping on Wasps FCs toes, which given the legends links, would be silly.
It's do it at the top or not at all.
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The mission accomplished fiasco was in Abu Dhabi, in the grounds of the Emirate?s Palace Hotel, on a surface wholly unsuited to rugby. I even went to the game as it was about a 30min walk from my flat. The logic for the event seemed to have more to do with Etihad?s then sponsorship of Quins rather than anything that might actually have benefited Wasps. In other word, it was just one of the many cock-ups that eventually led to our demise.
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Do wonder what would have happened if Booker went through.
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Wasps RFC aren't going to have a new team at level 10 or any RFU competition. The subtitle of the Wasps final statement yesterday makes that fairly obvious.
It said:
Our exit from the Rugby Football Union
NOT
Our exit from Rugby Union
NOT
Our permanent exit from the Rugby Football Union
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Wasps RFC aren't going to have a new team at level 10 or any RFU competition. The subtitle of the Wasps final statement yesterday makes that fairly obvious.
It said:
Our exit from the Rugby Football Union
NOT
Our exit from Rugby Union
NOT
Our permanent exit from the Rugby Football Union
Can I join in?
It didn't say
Our temporary exit from the Rugby Football Union.
Unless major changes happen in said RFU Wasps RFC won't have a team in their competitions. Wasps RFC are not going to be starting at the bottom of the pyramid.
"Welcome to Worcester" isn't happening because the Ryan Reynolds of the ruby world looked at it, spoke to them and said bollocks to that RFU/PRL format, where's the sense in throwing money at a black hole when there's no planned prospect of getting back to the top again after going on deep financially to start with.
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Statement now on Wasps website.
Registered address is Henley.
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Rubys???
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Irrespective of where a phoenix Wasps might play and at what level, the inference I take is that the new entity has no commitment to cover any of the debt sustained by Wasps Holdings.
So the new entity could find another professional competion to enter? If that was the case it could be an attractive propostion for new investors.
I am just theorising on what has been infered in the statement on the website.
Food for thought!
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Irrespective of where a phoenix Wasps might play and at what level, the inference I take is that the new entity has no commitment to cover any of the debt sustained by Wasps Holdings.
So the new entity could find another professional competion to enter? If that was the case it could be an attractive propostion for new investors.
I am just theorising on what has been infered in the statement on the website.
Food for thought!
Basically the RFU have removed the need to repay. As I understand it they were still willing to but rug pulled.