Premiership financial issues

[ExAviator]

"Saracens is what has led to the over inflated wages (in relation to the money in the game) being demanded by top players now - a big reason that these clubs have gone to the wall."

So the pay of around five hundred Premiership players was determined by just one club! Really? Did the significant rewards, then and now, offered by French, Irish, Japanese Clubs (and others) have no effect whatsoever on the pay levels of Premiership players?

[Adam_P]

Less affect on the wages of England internationals or players with ambitions to be an England international, and therefore remain in the premiership, certainly. They're certainly not the only contributing factor, but I think it's hard to argue that the cheating by Saracens won't have had a significant impact on the wage demands of the top Premiership players, particularly England players.

[twitchy]

[Puja]

This sounds potentially promising for Worcester: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/63411113

Puja

[FKAS]

This sounds potentially promising for Worcester: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/63411113

Puja

That does sound like good news. I think I heard Diamond is aiming at being back in the Prem inside four years as well which sounds like a realistic rebuild plan as opposed to appeal, force way back into league and finish bottom for a few seasons whilst playing catch up.

Simon Cohen knows his stuff as well so he'll be useful. I've had him described in erm various ways over the years (not all polite) but him and Diamond will be a direct and experienced combination to drag Warriors back.

[Which Tyler]

[Puja]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/63447055

The question has to be that, if the deal does not include the CBS Arena, where are Wasps based? There seems to be no point in them being in Coventry without the stadium, especially since they'll be in the same league as actual Coventry Rugby next season. But then they lose all the midlands supporters and have to try and build a crowd entirely anew somewhere else. Do they move back to London? Wycombe? Where are they going to draw academy players from - do they get a new catchment area and what's that gonna mean for the clubs who are being shoved out of that area?

What exactly are they buying apart from a brand? And, if it's just a brand, can that go anywhere? Milton Keynes? Ottawa?

Puja

[fivepointer]

Yeah, there's just a few questions arising.

[Oakboy]

London Wasps belong in London. Otherwise, I don't see what purpose their existence serves now that a move out of London has failed so badly.

[francoisfou]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/63447055

The question has to be that, if the deal does not include the CBS Arena, where are Wasps based? There seems to be no point in them being in Coventry without the stadium, especially since they'll be in the same league as actual Coventry Rugby next season. But then they lose all the midlands supporters and have to try and build a crowd entirely anew somewhere else. Do they move back to London? Wycombe? Where are they going to draw academy players from - do they get a new catchment area and what's that gonna mean for the clubs who are being shoved out of that area?

What exactly are they buying apart from a brand? And, if it's just a brand, can that go anywhere? Milton Keynes? Ottawa?

Puja

A valid point. Coventry RFC (founded in 1874) are currently 3rd in the Championship and are moving in the right direction. LONDON Wasps should recognise this and relocate down south.

[fivepointer]

Wasps havent played in London for 20 years.

If they're looking to move to an area that wont have many counter attractions and may be suitable for Prem rugby the south coast might be ideal. Brighton or Bournemouth perhaps?

[Mellsblue]

If the RFU and/or PRL do want a sustainable professional second tier then Coventry are/should be one of their best options to achieve that, and having Wasps in Coventry won’t allow that to happen.
Wasps must still have the rump of a supporter base in/around London regardless of long it’s been. Just planting a club/franchise in a location and starting from scratch is a recipe for (another) disaster, imo.

[Gloskarlos]

RFU have decided that they will fund both Worcester and Wasps academies for the next 18 months. Run independently, I guess until both clubs are premiership concerns again, which isn’t necessarily guaranteed to happen in that timescale.

[Puja]

A valid point. Coventry RFC (founded in 1874) are currently 3rd in the Championship and are moving in the right direction. LONDON Wasps should recognise this and relocate down south.

Agree with you agreeing with me, but just being pedantic - their name was never historically London Wasps and never was when they were in London. It was a short-lived marketing rebranding for about 3 years while they were in Wycombe.

Puja

[Peej]

Brighton are too closely linked to Quins to break into that.

Wasps having a possible future is great, but I don't see how this new offer can be sustainable if they don't own their own stadium and have an income. How can there be a solid business plan for the RFU to sign off on it?

[Puja]

Wasps havent played in London for 20 years.

If they're looking to move to an area that wont have many counter attractions and may be suitable for Prem rugby the south coast might be ideal. Brighton or Bournemouth perhaps?

Going to the Madejski's a classic option?

RFU have decided that they will fund both Worcester and Wasps academies for the next 18 months. Run independently, I guess until both clubs are premiership concerns again, which isn’t necessarily guaranteed to happen in that timescale.

Good work by the RFU. Those players are ones that we don't want to lose from our game - even if Wasps and Wuss don't revive, it's worth doing just to keep the pathways alive until they can be parcelled out to other clubs.

Puja

[Puja]

The Worcester bidders planning a documentary about rescuing the club: https://12ft.io/proxy?ref=&q=https://ww ... ive-style/

Could be good, although I hope they've got a longer-term plan than that.

Puja

[FKAS]

The Worcester bidders planning a documentary about rescuing the club: https://12ft.io/proxy?ref=&q=https://ww ... ive-style/

Could be good, although I hope they've got a longer-term plan than that.

Puja

Good opportunity for extra revenue generation as long as they've sold it to someone who's willing to pay something worthwhile for it.

[FKAS]

Not sure if already covered but the Wasps bid is for the men's team and academy only. So I assume not the CBS stadium and the women's team are being ditched, on the second point they aren't really reading the room are they.

[Peej]

I think the Women's team are really basically independent anyway and run out of Wasps FC in Twyford Avenue?

[Mellsblue]

I think the Women's team are really basically independent anyway and run out of Wasps FC in Twyford Avenue?

That’s what I’ve read. They’re still playing matches so that’s a pretty big clue that they don’t need saving?

As discussed previously, no news about the stadium is hopefully evidence they’re moving back to(wards) London. With a bit of luck the men’s and women’s teams might be able to link up.

[Peej]

But the training ground is in Henley-in-Arden, and I don't think they'd leave that. The Wasps Legends are a pretty geographically dispersed group as well.

[Banquo]

Apparently the Wasps ladies are independent, so don't need saving.

[Mellsblue]

I suppose the most important part of this news is whether the group have named themselves the Wasps Legends? IF so, is one of the tests in the fit and proper owners criteria based on levels of hubris?

[FKAS]

I suppose the most important part of this news is whether the group have named themselves the Wasps Legends? IF so, is one of the tests in the fit and proper owners criteria based on levels of hubris?

I just assumed Dayglo was involved and had named the consortium.