"Back with a bang" - Five free agents Wasps should sign ahead of Championship return

Sixways was previously the home ground of Worcester Warriors, who went into administration earlier this season. Wasps' use of the stadium is subject to approval from the Rugby Football Union (RFU), and the lease has yet to be signed.

However, a debenture between Atlas Worcester Warriors Rugby Club Ltd and Loxwood Holdings, a company owned by Holland, has been registered at Companies House.

Wasps also have Solihull Moors FC as an alternative stadium option, but they still need to overcome financial hurdles and meet RFU regulations, including paying rugby creditors.

Additionally, below are five potential high-profile signings that Wasps could make ahead of their return to rugby.

The recently retired scrum-half hung up his boots recently, but has been tempted out of retirement to play for his boyhood club Old Priorians.

Some reports suggest this is the playmaker keeping himself in good shape to rejoin Wasps in the Championship next season.

Simpson – who made 230 appearances for Wasps in the Premiership (along with spells for Gloucester, Bath and Sale) and played for England at the 2011 World Cup – retired from the professional game in December 2022 and follows his brother Michael in pulling on the OPs shirt.

Looking ahead to his debut, Simpson told the club website: “‘It’s great to be back playing at Perivale – St Benedict’s was a big part of my life and I’m looking forward to having a run out with some of the lads I’ve grown up with.’

Likelihood: 7/10

A third spell at his boyhood club has been mooted with Cipriani being the face of the clubs latest reincarnation.

“I’m just keeping it fit and enjoying my training,” revealed Cipriani, who admitted a return to rugby is nowhere near to Rugby Pass.

“I think the best part at the moment is your whole career you’re told how to train, what to do, and so on and so. 

’m away from that, I’ve enjoyed my fitness, my movement more than ever. It’s really enjoyable. Playing lots of football.

“I also feel my best rugby could be in front of me,” said the 35-year-old. “Or I might never play again. And physically, I feel world-class.”

Cipriani, who has played for Wasps, Melbourne Rebels, Sale Sharks, Gloucester, and Bath, announced he is currently participating in informal training sessions with England’s Jonny Wilkinson.

Likelihood: 5/10

Gopperth has been released by Leicester Tigers after spending just one season at the club.

The versatile back made the move across the Midlands from fellow Gallagher Premiership club Wasps.

Born in New Zealand, he was selected to represent Wellington’s provincial team in 2003 after impressing for Old Boys University, before signing with Super Rugby side the Hurricanes in 2005.

Gopperth represented New Zealand Under-21 and the Junior All Blacks before moving to Auckland in 2008 and represented North Harbour and The Blues in Super Rugby before moving to the northern hemisphere in 2009 to join Newcastle Falcons.

After more than 100 appearances for Newcastle, he joined Leinster Rugby for two seasons and returned to the Premiership with Wasps in 2015.

Gopperth has won both the Premiership Player of the Year and RPA Players' Player of the Year awards, as well as the Golden Boot in 2016/17 as the league’s top points-scorer. He sits in fourth place on the Premiership’s all-time points-scorer list after more than 200 appearances in the English top flight.

Mills left the black and golds when they went bust to sign a short term deal with Sale Sharks.

He joined Wasps in July 2020. The 27-year-old, who made 106 appearances for Worcester, has shone in the Premiership for a number of years, whether it be at fly-half or centre, and he also captained the Warriors on a number of occasions.

A competent goal-kicker, Mills has often shown his kicking prowess, particularly with a match-winning, Worcester-record, 24-point haul to help them beat Saracens in 2016/17 – a season which saw him called up for two England training camps.

Before his move to Sixways, the centre played 26 times for Gloucester Rugby after graduating from Hartpury College. He previously spent 12 years with Exeter Chiefs from the age of five before cementing a place in the England Under 18 and Under 20 squads.

Mills was part of the Under 20 Junior World Championship and Six Nations squads in 2011 and 2012, helping his country to Grand Slam success in the latter.

Second-rower Green returned to Leicester Tigers from Newcastle Falcons in the summer of 2019 before being released this summer.

Originally from Norwich, Calum came through the Tigers academy ranks, captaining the team in his final year, before making his senior debut at the end of the 2008/09 season as a teenager.

He started the historic win over world champions South Africa at Welford Road as well as gaining senior experience on loan at Nottingham before joining Yorkshire Carnegie.

Calum moved to Newcastle in 2014 and made more than 100 first-team appearances for the Falcons, consistently appearing among Premiership Rugby’s leading locks, particularly in his set-piece stats, before agreeing to return to Welford Road where he made 20 appearances in his first season back.