'It's never nice to see, I've been through something similarish'

Wasps boss Lee Blackett has explained why he has every sympathy for Worcester following the liquidation of their squad this week – and it is not because his own club is having its financial woes with recent court filings to appoint administrators having placed a freeze on recruitment. It was September 21 when Wasps originally bought some time to try and solve its financial impasse by filing a notice of intention to appoint administrators.

This was followed 13 days later by Tuesday’s second filing of an intention notice to appointed administrators, a development that resulted in chief executive Stephen Vaughan and chief operating officer Chris Holland addressing players and staff at the Wasps training ground on Wednesday.

Blackett insisted he was enthused by what he heard from the Wasps CEO and COO, stating: “They have got the full backing of everyone here. They have given us nothing to say they are not being completely honest. We’re completely behind them.”

That confidence is why he refused to compare the current Wasps situation with what has happened at Worcester, but he did admit to having great empathy for the Warriors as he previously experienced the trauma of a team being liquidated and players losing their jobs.

Back in the summer of 2004, Rotherham Titans were getting ready for a season back in the Championship (National One as it was called at the time) following Premiership relegation when the club went kaput and there were six weeks of limbo before a consortium came up with a package that allowed them to belatedly begin their second-tier season.

“It is never nice to see,” said Blackett about the situation at Worcester where players are now free agents following Wednesday’s insolvency court decision. “I have been through something similarish years and years ago when we got relegated at Rotherham. We did a pre-season and at the end of the pre-season, I remember going to an Ulster game when we got called off because we were told the club was going into administration, so I know how tough it can be.

“I’m just gutted for everyone there (at Worcester). I know several people there really well so it will be a tough period for all those guys but there are a lot of quality rugby players there, a lot of quality staff and hopefully they can find jobs.

“Around the supporters, you don’t know what is going to happen around that. You feel for everyone in the club. If you think of everything in my lifetime from where Worcester came from to where they are now, it’s pretty gutting really.”

Bath snapped up four Worcester players on loan last Monday while Duhan van der Merwe signed for Edinburgh on Wednesday, but Blackett said Wasps aren’t in the market for Warriors recruits as there is currently a recruitment freeze in place at the Coventry-based club.

“No, we are definitely not in a position to do that [sign Worcester players]. There are some quality players and I am sure they will be picked up but at this moment of time at Wasps, we are not in a position to do that. There is potential for that [Worcester players training at Wasps] but these guys will be all looking for clubs and I’m sure there will be a lot of clubs contacting them. Hopefully, they will find a job.”

Blackett added that he hated talking negatively about the Premiership at a time when the entertainment on the pitch was most spectacular in the opening weeks of the 2022/23 season. “This is why I hate talking about anything financial off the field and I hate talking about Worcester and things like that because you are watching a Premiership that has never been more exciting.

“I’m sitting at home and you find yourself clapping at some of the rugby being played. It is outstanding from teams. I have never seen the speed and the skillsets now and teams scoring as many points attacking-wise. It’s reaching its peak in terms of an attacking game.”