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RFU statement: Wasps' Gallagher Premiership suspension confirmed

(Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images)

Financially stricken Wasps have been officially suspended by the RFU from participation in the Gallagher Premiership until further notice. A lunchtime statement from the Coventry-based club had laid bare their cash flow crisis and a training ground meeting informed players and staff that Wasps would go into administration in the coming days.

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This Saturday’s scheduled top-flight game at Exeter was also postponed and the RFU have since entered the equation, issuing a statement on Wednesday evening that confirmed the suspension of Wasps from the Premiership. It read: “The RFU’s club financial viability group has met this evening and confirmed that Wasps are suspended from the Gallagher Premiership Rugby League.

“We appreciate this is a very difficult time for Wasps players, staff and supporters who will be concerned at news that the club is likely to enter administration. The RFU will continue to work with the club, PRL and any potential administrator or future investors to find the best possible outcome for the club.”

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Unlike in the case of Worcester, who were automatically relegated when they were suspended from taking part in the remainder of the 2022/23 season, there was no mention of automatic relegation in the RFU statement regarding Wasps being set to enter administration.

The RFU statement instead added: “Wasps will need to reapply for the suspension to be lifted if they are able to demonstrate the means and commitment to pay rugby creditors.

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“From a regulatory perspective, Wasps FC (women) may continue to operate as they are a separate entity and have a separate registration with the RFU. However, as the men’s club have been providing funding towards wages and other support, Wasps FC will need to establish a funding stream to support the continued operation of the team.

Earlier, the 358-word Wasps statement admitted. “While the companies within the (Wasps) group all represent strong and viable businesses, the reality is that they have insufficient cash at this time to continue to fund operations until these complex negotiations have concluded.

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“We have therefore been asking potential funders and investors to provide bridging finance to provide enough time for a solvent solution to be found. Regrettably, this has not been possible to date, although we will continue to pursue this until the very last opportunity.

“In light of the current situation, we have therefore taken the decision to withdraw the Wasps men’s team from this Saturday’s league fixture against Exeter Chiefs.”

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J
JW 58 minutes ago
Leicester Fainga'anuku denied All Blacks eligibility for TRC

I don’t get that. I got the opposite, this was something Lester really really wanted to do. NZR is not going to stop him doing that by putting ridiculous money in front of him (noted you were only asking for fair money).


I wouldn’t say this was a Mo’unga or Frizell situation where there talent only was unlocked after they signed abroad, when Schmidt and Ryan came in respectively. LF was on a good trajectory, and he just decided he has the perfect window of opportunity to go abroad while he’s not first choice, learn and live in France to come back better and have a good shot at the perfect age. I think he recongised that.


Agreed that our rotation has been off the the last decade, players have not been moved on when they should, but I wouldn’t include Rieko in that discussion, though I would accept he is more of a marketing than performance signing.


Also agree it is a strange condunrum that results from the misalligned seasons, where Lester is straight into NPC in the same season almost. When really the ‘start’ of his contract is next year. Is he even going to be on the payroll at the moment? Could it be used as a double dip to encourage players back, a ‘bonus international season’ of match fees.


But they also don’t want them to become anymore common. So perhaps everything is fine? Like I was alluding to with Toko, they would need multiple markers of their own in Top 14 for them to be able to gauge off. As I’ve said in previous articles I’d be comfortable to expand sabbaticals to 2 in every position (yes a huge change), so that the was a core group of 30 of the top players all aligned with the ABs and overseas at any one time. This would ensure there are good markers to correlate levels of performance amongst everyone. This is a very similar setup/size to South Africa. It is like the AB modem in a wider organism, the vets are shipped off much earlier, and the core of next cycle is brought through. No missing out on the JGPs or Aki’s, no the Antonio’s or young Patrick Tuifua’s to france, keeping the Chandler Cunningham-South’s or Roots brothers, evan this Dubious guy from the French team was playing rugby here in NZ and could have stayed with a more ground up focus on bringing players through, not paying them much etc lol

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