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Wasps statement: Update on return to rugby

(Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

Wasps have this morning updated its stakeholders and fans on the ongoing efforts to rebuild and return both its men’s and women’s teams to top-tier competitive rugby.

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Following a period of severe financial and operational difficulties that saw the Coventry-based club collapse in late 2022, the owners of the entity outlined a recovery strategy in October 2023 based on three key pillars: forming a competitive entity reflective of Wasps’ values, establishing sustainable finance to support recovery, and securing a stadium to host their matches.

The club – who amassed debts of over 100 million pounds before their demise – claim they have now confirmed the achievement of two critical milestones in this return plan.

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“We can now inform you that we have secured the core Sustainable finance and a Stadium in which to play. All we are waiting for is a competition to join that will allow us to compete at the highest level – and one that shares our values,” reads the statement.

The club say they have made “substantial progress in the establishment of a suitable ground in which to play as we progress the planning for our new stadium.”

As it says, Wasps is still in the process of identifying a suitable competition for its teams to join. In May, 2023 the RFU effectively blocked the club’s entry into the RFU Championship, England’s second-flight rugby competition, citing the club’s failure to meet a deadline to show proof of funding, saying it had “withdrawn the licence for Wasps to continue to play in the league structure.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.”

The club emphasizes the importance of finding a competition that aligns with its values and aspirations for high-level performance.

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Wasps has issued a call to action to its supporters, urging them to demonstrate their support by signing up to a new database. The club suggests that the level of support could influence its acceptance into a competition that matches its ambitions.

“As we navigate through our most challenging period, this is a call to all of you who have shared this journey with us. Whatever entity we join will want to know the level of support we enjoy. By signing up to our new database, you’re not just showing support; you’re becoming a foundational part of our return.”

By registering their support, fans can play a part in the club’s efforts to return to competitive rugby, they say.

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Comments

5 Comments
T
Tim 296 days ago

WHAT VALUES!!
100M of dead and they walk away from it.
Tier 9 is where they should start.

i
inewmedia 299 days ago

“our values” what a joke, having stitched up creditors to the tune of £100m…

L
Lee 299 days ago

Wow. Would be nice to see wasps come back. If the debts been paid. Shame about the Saudi interest though. This isn’t football where the princess want the 100k a week, this is the berserkers that like a manly punch up, hand shake and carry on.

I
Ian 299 days ago

For clarity, has any pf the alleged £100million debt been repaid?

If not, why should they be allowed back?

T
Timmyboy 299 days ago

So I bet they’re trying to use Worcester’s stadium & their financial backing is from the Saudi Arabian’s who were sniffing around the premiership earlier in the season.
Dodgy club and always will be. You can’t reward cowboys.

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GrahamVF 1 hour ago
Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

"has SA actually EVER helped to develop another union to maturity like NZ has with Japan," yes - Argentina. You obviously don't know the history of Argentinian rugby. SA were touring there on long development tours in the 1950's

We continued the Junior Bok tours to the Argentine through to the early 70's

My coach at Grey High was Giepie Wentzel who toured Argentine as a fly half. He told me about how every Argentinian rugby club has pictures of Van Heerden and Danie Craven on prominent display. Yes we have developed a nation far more than NZ has done for Japan. And BTW Sa players were playing and coaching in Japan long before the Kiwis arrived. Fourie du Preez and many others were playing there 15 years ago.


"Isaac Van Heerden's reputation as an innovative coach had spread to Argentina, and he was invited to Buenos Aires to help the Pumas prepare for their first visit to South Africa in 1965.[1][2] Despite Argentina faring badly in this tour,[2] it was the start of a long and happy relationship between Van Heerden and the Pumas. Izak van Heerden took leave from his teaching post in Durban, relocated to Argentina, learnt fluent Spanish, and would revolutionise Argentine play in the late 1960s, laying the way open for great players such as Hugo Porta.[1][2] Van Heerden virtually invented the "tight loose" form of play, an area in which the Argentines would come to excel, and which would become a hallmark of their playing style. The Pumas repaid the initial debt, by beating the Junior Springboks at Ellis Park, and emerged as one of the better modern rugby nations, thanks largely to the talents of this Durban schoolmaster.[1]"


After the promise made by Junior Springbok manager JF Louw at the end of a 12-game tour to Argentina in 1959 – ‘I will do everything to ensure we invite you to tour our country’ – there were concerns about the strength of Argentinian rugby. South African Rugby Board president Danie Craven sent coach Izak van Heerden to help the Pumas prepare and they repaid the favour by beating the Junior Springboks at Ellis Park.

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