Wasps refused to compete in the championship due to the RFU revoking their license over concerns about a lack of progress
The Asps’ chances of reform were severely hurt by their refusal to enter next season’s Championship.
The RFU has had Wasps’ gaming license revoked, meaning the two-time Heineken Cup winner would have to start at the bottom of the gaming pyramid next season.
Wasps came under administration in October and was later purchased by former director Chris Holland. The five-time Premiership champions became the second top club to be eliminated this season, after Worcester Warriors.
A Dutch-backed consortium of former Wasps players had applied to save the award-winning club. Attempts to secure funding failed, however, as Wasps was unable to come up with sufficiently concrete plans for the next season’s coaching roster and player staff.
Wasps’ administration forced the club to sell its stake in Premiership Rugby P, which entitles the club to a share of Central League revenues.
Apparently potential investors were unwilling to back the club in its new guise without the crucial P share of central funding.
“The RFU has revoked Wasps’ license to continue playing in the league structure,” the governing body said in a statement.
“It means Wasps won’t be able to play in the league next season.
“In order to ensure Wasps was able to compete in the Championship, the RFU gave the club a deadline to fulfill the commitments they made when the license was first approved and recommit to compete in the Championship in Year 2023/24 to commit .
“This included demonstrating payments to rugby creditors and putting in place appropriate governance structures, including a majority independent board and risk management process. The RFU was also concerned about the lack of progress in involving the coaching staff and players.
“The club stated that they could not honor these commitments, recommit to participate in the 2023/24 Championship or sign staff or players until further funding was secured.”
The RFU’s decision to exclude Wasps will now allow the composition of the Championship division to be determined for next season, with Worcester also failing to advance to the second tier.
The future of English club rugby remains on the brink as the London Irish are just days away from an RFU deadline to complete their long-discussed takeover or demonstrate their funding for 2023/24.
The London Irish have until May 30 to comply with the RFU’s demands
/ Getty Images“The RFU has worked with the new owners of Wasps to give the club the best chance to continue in the league structure and recognizes the efforts the new owners have made to achieve this,” the RFU said.
“However, the RFU board has decided that the license to continue playing will be revoked to give other clubs security.”
Wasps’ new owners, Holland, have given Worcester’s new owners, the Atlas Group, a £1.15million loan. This payment was made to secure Wasps a three-year lease to play at the Sixways site in Worcester, but that agreement is now void.
Atlas had promised to play rugby at the highest level in Worcester next season but with no sign of the Warriors changing that promise it seems hollow.
“This is not the result that anyone in rugby wanted and everyone associated with the club will be deeply disappointed,” said RFU chief executive Bill Sweeney.
“We have been working with the new owners over the last six months to ensure a solid plan can be put in place to enable the club to continue playing in the Championship whilst allowing players and staff to receive the monies owed to them.
“The RFU is working closely with Premiership Rugby and the Rugby Players Association to ensure players are supported.
“We are also working together expeditiously to ensure the sport emerges from this challenging time on a strong and solid financial footing.”
https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/rugby/wasps-rfu-championship-license-rugby-b1082178.html Wasps refused to compete in the championship due to the RFU revoking their license over concerns about a lack of progress
