Wasps await RFU decision on Sixways move

Wasps are set to find out at the end of the month whether they will be able to play at Sixways in next season’s Championship after the takeover of Worcester Warriors was finalised.

Wasps, which was plunged into administration at the start of the current season and subsequently relegated to the second tier, formally applied to the Rugby Football Union to host matches at Sixways. The club has had the Armco Stadium in Solihull approved as a possible home venue, as revealed by Telegraph Sport in December.

Confirmation of their bid to play at Sixways, which is “subject to further regulatory requirements from the RFU” comes on the day that the takeover of Worcester Warriors by the Atlas Group was announced by Begbies Traynor. The RFU is expected to consult with local stakeholders about Wasps’ request before the union’s board considers it towards the end of May.

Jim O’Toole and James Sandford have been key figures in negotiations for Atlas, who issued a statement saying that it looked forward to “delivering their vision for rugby, the business and the wider community at Sixways.” It remains unclear what level the new club will play at and under what guise. A merger with Stourbridge has been mooted previously. Atlas singled out staff at Sixways “who have kept the venue management operation going successfully.”

It is understood that the lease for Sixways is yet to be signed by Wasps, who are eager to compete in a 13-team Championship as well as the Premiership Rugby Cup next season. Sources close to the club have indicated that they are keen to pursue opportunities for supplemental income with their own stadium when possible.

Last month, The Guardian reported that Wasps had been planning to build a 24,000-seater stadium as part of a complex in the M40 corridor that would be fully operational by the 2027-28 season. The hope would be to include a hotel and conference facilities on the same site.

Back in February of this year, the RFU ruled that Wasps would be able to take their place in the Championship but that Worcester would not on account of the latter being unable to pay rugby creditors.