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BT presenter curiously casts doubt on next weekend's Wasps fixture

By Liam Heagney
(Photo by Bob Bradford/CameraSport via Getty Images)

BT Sport rugby frontman Craig Doyle has ignited speculation that financially stricken Wasps could go the way of Worcester and find themselves suspended by the RFU and unable to fulfil next weekend’s away Gallagher Premiership match at Exeter.

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Wasps boss Lee Blackett insisted the outlook was optimistic at the Coventry-based club despite last Tuesday’s filing of a second notice of intention to appoint administrators.

The club’s chief executive Stephen Vaughan and chief operating officer Chris Holland visited the training ground on Wednesday to address players and staff and Blackett claimed it was business as usual despite the summer’s recruitment freeze being reinstated at the club in recent weeks.

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Wasps are set to host Northampton at the CBS Arena this Sunday in a Premiership game that will be televised live by TV sport, but it was curious how presenter Doyle labelled their upcoming October 15 round six fixture at the Chiefs.

It was at the tail-end of a four-minute live interview on Friday night with Exeter head coach Ali Hepher at Ashton Gate when Doyle, who was chairing a panel that included Wasps director Lawrence Dallaglio, referenced the scheduled visit of Blackett’s team to Devon and created doubt that the match would go ahead.

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“I’m looking at your upcoming fixtures here, Ali,” he said. “Wasps at home next. Well, let’s hope that game happens because that is a bit up in the air at the moment. But the one you have got to get very excited about is Saracens in two rounds’ time. At the moment now that is just a huge, huge game to be excited about.”

Hepher replied: “Wasps is huge and that is our only focus. Unfortunately, you are not going to get a nibble on that.”

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A statement issued by Wasps Holdings Limited last Tuesday revealed talks were at a relatively advanced stage with possible investors in the face of a winding up order from HM Revenue and Customs for £2million in unpaid tax.

The English top-flight club is also struggling to repay the £35m bond that was raised to help finance their relocation from High Wycombe to Coventry in 2014 which was due in May 2022. Asked about the club’s financial situation at his media briefing on Wednesday, Blackett revealed that Vaughan and Holland had dropped by to talk to players and staff.

“They explained about filing that second notice of intention to appoint administrators. They talked about interested parties, they were very honest with the group. Positive at the same time as well as being honest.”

The coach then expressed satisfaction that Wasps were handling their financial situation in a far more transparent manner than what happened at the RFU-suspended Worcester, who won’t play again this season and have been automatically relegated to the Championship next season.

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“Yeah, you’d like to think so. At the moment everything they have said to us has always been the 100 per cent truth. They have got the full backing of everyone here. They have given us nothing to say they are not being completely honest. We are completely behind them. There is a feeling here we are all in this together. It is not an us and them.”

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Trevor 1 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

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Bull Shark 5 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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