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Rob Howley calls on new Wasps owners 'to do the right things'
Rob Howley, who tasted Premiership and Heineken Cup glory with Wasps, has called on whoever ends up in charge of the financially stricken club “to do the right things” to help them get back to the top of the professional club game in England.
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Wasps’ game with Exeter Chiefs this weekend has been suspended after it was reported that the club was heading into administration this week. Against that background, they will follow Worcester Warriors in being relegated to the Championship.
Premiership Rugby and the RFU issued a joint statement in which they said they would “continue to work with the club and once appointed, the administrator to support ongoing efforts to secure a long-term future for the club.”
Wales legend Howley hopes that will be the case, with the club being given the chance to bid for promotion back to the Premiership as soon as possible should their relegation be confirmed.
“I know there are many standards to the Wasps holdings, and I just hope the people who end up in charge take the right steps to give the club a fighting chance to return to the Premiership,” said Howley.
“I’m sure there will be a thorough analysis of how and why things a got to this point and I hope that whoever takes over can keep the players and coaching staff together and start again next season.
“We’ve all seen what happened with Saracens when they were relegated, and ‘.
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“I know we’ve seen Worcester Warriors lose a lot of their players, but the people behind the scenes need to do everything they can to keep as many of the players as possible together in order to get back to the top as soon as possible – the club game in England needs a strong Wasps.”
The Wasps team in which Howley starred was led by England World Cup winner Lawrence Dallaglio, but also had a number of non-English players in its ranks. Howley famously scored the winning try against Toulouse in the 2004 Heineken Cup final when he took advantage of some sloppy defending from Clement Poitrenaud to bounce on a loose ball to seal European glory for Wasps. Himself a former Wales captain, Howley says players from all over the world owe the club a huge debt of gratitude.
“When you look back over the history of the Premiership, Wasps are right up there with the likes of Leicester, Bath and Saracens as one of the best teams,” he added.
“They have been dining at the top table of the English game for a long, long time and English rugby will be all the poorer for not having them there.
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“I was lucky to be involved in a golden era at the club when we won Premiership and European titles, and it is a club that is very dear to my heart. They have produced many international players for England and given other internationals from around the world the chance to play at the highest level of the club game.
“I’m thinking of players like Canada’s Gareth Rees, the Scottish duo of Damien Cronin and Alasdair Reed, my favourite hooker, Trevor Leota of Tonga, and Welshmen like myself. It will be a very sad time for all of us who enjoyed our involvement with the club.
“I feel sorry for the players and the coaches who are caught in the middle of this situation, but I also feel very sad for the fans. Many of them have followed the club from Loftus Road to Adams Park, and then on to Coventry, and all the fans will be hurting.”
Comments on RugbyPass
I hope Leinster’s proud of themselves fielding a poor team. They should decide if they’re all in or not.
1 Go to commentsJordie is looking at 16 games maximum if Leinster reach both the URC and champions cup finals. Thats not guaranteed. Some of those home URC fixtures will be cakewalks as well for Leinster and there is not much doing during the 6 nations in Feb and March so he can probably get a decent rest then. He will have to really put in it for maybe 7 or 8 games max. It should be a good move for both.
13 Go to commentsThe game was a quarter final, not a semi final. Barrett will be here for 6 months, he is no one's replacement at 13. That mantle will most likely ultimately go to Jamie Osborne, though Garry Ringrose has at least 4 more years in him. The long term problem position (in the next 3 years) for Leinster is tighthead prop, though there are a couple of prospects at schools level.
25 Go to commentsSo much for all that hype surrounding the ‘revival’ of Aussie rugby. The Blues were without the likes of regular starters Perofeta, Sullivan, Christie etc… This was a capitulation of the highest order by Australia’s finest. Joe Schmidt definitely has his work cut out for him.
2 Go to commentsYes they can ignore Sotutu. Like Akira Ioane plays OK at Super level but gets lost in tests. Too many chances too many failures.
2 Go to commentsA wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
13 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
13 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
6 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
25 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
6 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
10 Go to comments