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Wasps have issued a statement denying that they have come to an agreement to move to Sixways Stadium in Worcester, or any other stadium for that matter.
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Reports from a public meeting held at the stadium had Atlas owner Jim O’Toole claiming that Wasps had agreed a three-year deal to play their RFU Championship Rugby games at Sixways, the home of the Worcester Warriors.
“To clarify on rumours today, Wasps have not signed a ground agreement with any stadium and remain in discussions with several potential venues.
“We will not put pen to paper on any agreement without having first consulted with both the relevant Governing bodies and more importantly, the local communities that would be impacted by such a move.”
Atlas, the buyers of Worcester Warriors, informed the RFU last week that it would not be continuing with its application for a place in the Championship and this position has not changed. Therefore, they will not have a place in the Championship next year.
Wasps and the RFU have been working closely in recent weeks, particularly around the payment of rugby creditors, to establish a clear process for validation and payment of those rugby creditors. We will continue to work with and support the club over the payment of rugby creditors. The RFU and Wasps have agreed within the insolvency agreement that the payment of staff and players must be prioritised.
On Thursday 9 February, Atlas released a statement saying that they had withdrawn its application for Worcester Warriors men’s team to play in the Championship. The RFU and DCMS met with Atlas on Monday 13 February to see if there could be a different resolution to the situation.
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The Atlas position did not change, and therefore Worcester Warriors will not participate in the Championship in the 2023-24 season.
The Atlas decision to withdraw their Championship application “leaves the RFU with no regulatory means” to enforce the payment of rugby creditors and this responsibility for managing the liabilities of the insolvent club now lies with the administrator of WRFC Trading Limited, and the liquidator of WRFC Players Limited, the union have stated.
