Jamie George: Premiership turmoil ‘darkest week in rugby history’ October 18, 2022 England hooker Jamie George has described recent days in the Premiership as the “darkest week in rugby history” after Wasps joined Worcester Warriors in administration. The Saracens front rower is out of England’s Autumn Nations Series with metatarsal damage but says watching domestic rugby’s financial crisis worsen is concerning. Wasps plunged into administration on Monday [...]
Wasps enter administration with MPs set to question rugby’s chiefs October 18, 2022 Wasps, one of English rugby’s most decorated clubs with a history dating back 155 years, has gone into administration as the Premiership yesterday lost its second team in a month. The Coventry-based side admitted last week that they were likely to be handed over to administrators within days and that came to pass on Monday [...]
Jones mixes old and new in latest England squad ahead of autumn October 17, 2022 Eddie Jones has overhauled around a third of his squad for the Autumn Nations Cup as the England head coach looks to add to the depth of his team ahead of next year’s World Cup. November will see England play three of the southern hemisphere’s big four – Argentina, New Zealand and South Africa, as [...]
Rugby chief suggests French-style governance can save game in England October 16, 2022 England rugby chief Bill Sweeney has insisted the Premiership and Championship should look across the Channel to France for inspiration as the domestic game faces a crisis unlike anything it has seen in the professional era. Two clubs – Worcester Warriors and Wasps – have been suspended from the league after going into administration, with [...]
Ollie Phillips: A good culture can give a side that extra one per cent October 14, 2022 “Rugby values” aren’t always renowned by those who look at the sport from the outside, but few could deny that the development of culture within a squad can be paramount to positivity on and off the field. We have seen in recent days and weeks how Worcester Warriors and Wasps have been smothered with wellwishers [...]
Wasps teeter on the brink as Premiership club suspended October 12, 2022 One of the Premiership Rugby’s most successful and historic clubs has become the second English side within a month to be suspended from the top flight after Wasps announced that they would likely fall into administration in the coming days. The Coventry-based outfit today said that they had withdrawn from their Premiership fixture against Exeter [...]
Sharks circling: Sale’s unbeaten start testament to mixing talent October 11, 2022 In Sale’s post-Steve Diamond era, no one really knew what to expect from a rugby union outpost written off season after season. But in their third year under former Saracens coach Alex Sanderson, Sale are one of two unbeaten sides in the Premiership and motoring along nicely. With four wins from four, including over the [...]
Former Wasps chief executive interested in bid for club October 9, 2022 Financially troubled Premiership rugby club Wasps could be taken over by a bid headed by former chief executive David Armstrong. The club, who moved to Coventry from High Wycombe in 2014, are facing money woes in relation to tax owed to HMRC, bond repayments and other debt. Sources close to the auction of the club [...]
Ollie Phillips: West Country derbies can resurrect bad week for Premiership October 7, 2022 Premiership Rugby has not covered itself in glory off the field this week but the product on the pitch is still gripping fans. The situation at Worcester is dire and is a reminder of how fragile professional sport can be. But with this week’s fixtures, there’s no way I cannot discuss a pair of mouthwatering [...]
Ed Warner: F1 needs to fast track its cost cap procedures October 6, 2022 The headhunter was calling me about a CEO role at a top six Premier League club. He was building his long list of possible candidates. One of the lures was that half the salary would be paid outside the UK in a low tax jurisdiction, ostensibly for services rendered directly to the club’s overseas owners. [...]