RFU statement: Championship deadline set for Wasps and Worcester

The RFU have set the new owners of Wasps and Worcester a mid-February deadline to have their respective takeovers fully completed so that they can be given the go-ahead to compete in next season’s Championship. The pair of ex-Gallagher Premiership clubs went to wall at the start of the 2022/23 season, resulting in the top flight getting reduced from 13 to 11 clubs.

It was intimated that both Wasps and Worcester could return to rugby in the second tier for the 2023/24 season, but they have been set a fresh deadline to guarantee to English Rugby HQ that they will definitely be ready for business next term.

A Wednesday evening statement read: “The RFU has informed the new owners of Wasps RFC and the administrators of WRFC Trading Limited (the main operating entity of Worcester Warriors RFC) that they have until 14 February to conclude their negotiations and provide evidence that they have met the relevant conditions set.

“This is a significant extension to the original mid-December timeline to provide the clubs with the best possible chance of being in the Championship next year. However, a final deadline must be set to provide certainty to the Championship and National League clubs, players and other rugby stakeholders over the format of next season.

“In the case of Wasps, the RFU board conditionally approved the takeover but not all the conditions set have yet been met, including the lodging of a bond and the signing of an agreement which commits the new club to the relevant conditions. Both would need to be done by the deadline for the approval to remain in place.

“The proposed buyers of Worcester Warriors had informed the RFU that they were not prepared to meet the conditions set, which included commitments not to dispose of land around Sixways Stadium without approval and were unable to satisfy the RFU of the sources and sufficiency of funding.

“The RFU was not able to confirm the suitability of the prospective owners. Therefore, the RFU board was unable to approve their application. If that position changes within the deadline, the RFU will be able to reconsider whether the application can be approved, but if not, then unfortunately the RFU decision will remain the same.”

The statement came just a few hours after it emerged that the Begbies Traynor Group, who were the administrators appointed to find a buyer for Worcester, confirmed it had struck a deal with Atlas for the Warriors to be taken over.