According to The Telegraph, discussions have been held within the RFU (Rugby Football Union) and Premiership Rugby regarding the preservation of the brand associated with Wasps, a prominent and successful English club rugby team.
The talks involve the possibility of offering the club a “franchise” place in the Championship, which would allow them to return to the second tier of English rugby within the next five years.
Their expulsion from the Premiership in October came not long after Worcester were also removed from the top tier after going into administration.
On Thursday night, the RFU board made the decision to revoke Wasps’ license to compete in the Championship for the upcoming season.
This meant that the four-time English and two-time European champions would have to start from the bottom of the league pyramid and participate in Counties 4 Midlands West.
In an effort to secure funding for the club to play in the Championship next season, Chris Holland, who owns the club’s training ground and intellectual property, had received approval to use Solihull Moors FC’s ground and was exploring the possibility of leasing Worcester’s Sixways stadium.
The RFU reportedly made efforts to assist the club in obtaining funding, including introducing Holland to a potential investor and organizing meetings to facilitate the funding process.
However, uncertainties surrounding the future structure of the top two tiers of English rugby and the potential retention of promotion and relegation posed challenges to securing the necessary funds.
‘Wasps have determination and commitment to continue’
It has been an all-consuming 7 months since the 17th of October 2022. Our first task was to save and secure the brand, the IP, and the legend – and in that we have been successful. Since then, we have been constantly involved in the resurrection of the club with the intention of competing in the 2023 RFU Championship.
Operating in a void between regulatory authorities that were managed by strict governance requirements, and a championship that had not been engaged in our membership and who, perhaps understandably, offered some resentment to our inclusion, has been challenging.
Our recovery to date has been managed by a very small team who have been dealing with the operational and financial issues and requirements of the RFU and PRL since our engagement in November 2022 when we were successful in the approval process to enter the RFU Championship in September 2023.
That approval was subject to initial and then continuing requirements around financing, ground, rugby creditors and the demanding governance provisions. During our approval process, and since, we have continually reminded the RFU that we would not repeat the mistakes of the past by allowing a single point of failure, and that we would not commit to any employment or contract unless we were sure that we would be able to fund the expenditure for the season.
We have embarked on a wide ranging, and professional search, for suitable funding. From the outset we had interest from various sources who engaged in their own due diligence, some in depth to the extent that they had direct contact with the governing bodies. Whilst the investment interest continues, we regret to say that the current state of rugby finances, the lack of clarity on the league structure and concerns over promotion has caused the investor group to remain silent and fatigued.
On two occasions we asked the RFU for an extension of time to secure funding and to satisfy the rugby creditors. Our requests were refused on both occasions. Whilst we understand the need for regulatory conformity and the administration of the league, the only reason we needed that extension was for the RFU to establish a clear vision and direction of travel so that our investor pool were able to see equitable funding for the Championship and a clear pathway to promotion.
Indeed, the recent revelations around the possible ring fencing of the premiership for 3 to 5 years to protect it has further weakened our investment position. There is the suggestion that a route for promotion could exist with a play-off between the bottom of the premiership playing the winner of the Championship. Given there is a deficit of
£4m+ in funding between the Premiership and the Championship, then the only route of promotion includes the very problem of excessive funding that perpetuates the business system failure.
We had made progress in certain areas though. We have a kit deal, significant sponsorship from a global brand, and a choice of grounds to play at. We have 232 players and 37 coaches available to select a team from. We have also identified strong local authority support for our own stadium, and whilst some have criticised us for even considering a new stadium option, their rush to judgement ignores the stark reality that rugby at the higher levels needs supplementary income to survive without owner funding – which is the single point of failure we are determined to avoid. Rugby alone will not provide a sustainable business, until it is properly governed and financially supported.
The arrangements and direction regarding the rugby creditors has also been troublesome. We were handed the responsibility of others to identify, validate, audit, and settle the rugby creditor claims inherited from the previous administration. We established a system to manage this process and acknowledged our moral obligations to complete it.
Following our regrettable exit from the Championship, our understanding is that the rugby creditors will now revert back to the administrators for the claims to be pursued against Wasps Holdings Limited (In Administration). We will work with the administrators on this.
SO, WHAT WILL HAPPEN NOW?
The journey continues with utter determination and commitment to ensure that WASPS continues its 156-year history in a sustainable rugby environment that shares the vision and values that the new club aspires to.
We are extremely grateful for the loyal support and concern from our global fan base. Our silence has been deliberate and necessary. Firstly, we had nothing definitive to say that couldn’t have changed the following day, and often did, and secondly, we only recovered our social media accounts and rebuilt a new web site in the first week of May. You will hear more from us soon.
“Trouble ahead” – Top five Gallagher Premiership clubs with the most debt
Debt is something that plagues every rugby club. Struggling Worcester, who went out of business this season, wouldn’t have even made the top five with their debt of £28.3m.
#5. London Irish – £37.5m
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