BREAKING: Worcester Warriors situation gets worse, Wasps given hope

Thursday, 15 December 2022 at 17:44

byRugby Rucker

Reports tonight suggest that Worcester Warriors face being blocked from joining the Championship by the Rugby Football Union.

Former Warriors chief executive Jim O'Toole leads the Atlas consortium seeking to buy the club and ground.

The RFU has said it expects to make a decision on the deal "ahead of Christmas" after due diligence checks.

Telegraph Rugby

@TelegraphRugby

·Follow

Worcester Warriors face being blocked from parachuting into English rugby’s second tier but the RFU but Wasps are set to be allowed ✍️ @ben_rumsby #TelegraphRugby

5:34 PM · Dec 15, 2022

Read 1 reply

But in a statement, Atlas claim the governing body was trying to impose "onerous operational conditions".

They added: "Since entering into exclusivity with the administrators, we have sought to work collaboratively with the RFU with a view to Worcester Warriors re-entering the Championship for the 2023-24 season.

"Unfortunately, it has not been possible to reach a market or institutionally acceptable, commercially viable proposition with the RFU.

"The position being taken by the RFU gives, in our view, too much control and oversight to the RFU and such control and oversight is over and above what we consider is reasonable and appropriate in the circumstances."

In better news, Wasps are set to be approved entry to the Championship under their new ownership, according to The Telegraph.

Two more Premiership clubs in trouble as league’s debt topples £500m

#13. Exeter Chiefs - £13m

#12. Gloucester - £27m

#11. Northampton Saints £26.5m

#10. Worcester Warriors - £26.5m

Worcester Warriors flags fly in support of the club as they go through difficult times. during the Gallagher Premiership Rugby Match between Worcester Warriors and Exeter Chiefs at Sixways on 18 Sept 2022 Photo: Phil Mingo/PPAUK

#9. Sale Sharks - £30.9m

#8. Leicester Tigers - £31m

Guy Porter of Leicester Tigers during the Gallagher Premiership Rugby Semi Final Match between Leicester Tigers and Northampton Saints at Mattioli Woods Welford Road on 11 June. Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK