Wasps RFC facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

This page is about the professional rugby union team. For the amateur team, see Wasps FC. For other uses, see Wasp (disambiguation).

Quick facts for kids
Wasps

Full name

Wasps Rugby Football Club

Founded

1866; 159 years ago
(as "Hampstead Football Club" )
1867; 158 years ago
(as "Wasps FC")

Location

tbc

Ground(s)

tbc (Capacity: tbc)

Chairman

Christopher Holland

CEO

Vacant

Most caps

Simon Shaw (355)

Top scorer

Jimmy Gopperth (1,152)

Most tries

Christian Wade (82)

League(s)

tbc

2022–23

Premiership (Relegated due to administration)

1st kit

2nd kit

Official website

Wasps Rugby Football Club was a professional rugby union team from England. They used to play in Premiership Rugby, which is the top league for English rugby. However, the club faced financial problems and was suspended on October 12, 2022. On October 17, 2022, the club went into administration, which meant they were removed from the league. All their staff also lost their jobs. The club officially exited administration on December 16, 2022.

Wasps Rugby Football Club was first started in 1867 as Wasps Football Club. For many years, from 1923 to 1996, their home ground was in Sudbury, London. Then, they moved to Loftus Road in London (1996–2002) and later to Adams Park in High Wycombe (2002–2014). From 2014 to 2022, their home was the Coventry Building Society Arena in Coventry. After their financial troubles, they have not yet announced a new permanent home ground.

Wasps won 12 major titles during their history. They were European Champions twice, in 2004 and 2007. They also won six English Championships, including three in a row from 2003 to 2005. They also won three Anglo-Welsh Cups and the European Rugby Challenge Cup in 2003. Their last major trophy was the Premiership in 2008.

In October 2023, the club's owners shared plans to bring the team back. They hope to find a permanent home in Kent. They also mentioned the possibility of playing from Sixways Stadium in Worcester while a new stadium is built. The club hopes to be part of the professional rugby game in England again from 2025.

Club History

Early Years: Wasps FC (1866–1995)

The club started as Hampstead Football Club in 1866. Some members left to form two new clubs: Harlequin F.C. and Wasps. Wasps Football Club was officially formed in 1867 in North London. Naming sports clubs after insects or animals was popular back then.

In 1871, many rugby clubs met to create common rules for the game. Wasps were supposed to be there but sent their representative to the wrong place! Because of this mix-up, they missed the meeting and were not officially "founder members" of the Rugby Football Union (RFU).

Wasps first played in Finchley Road, North London. They moved to different rented grounds in London. In 1923, they found a permanent home in Sudbury, Middlesex, and eventually bought the land. The team became very strong in the 1930s, even going undefeated in the 1930–31 English season. Important players like Neville Compton, Vivian Jenkins, and Harry Bowcott played for Wasps. Many Wasps players also played for the England national team, including Ted Woodward and Bob Stirling.

In 1967, Wasps celebrated their 100th birthday. They played two special matches at Rugby school, where the game of rugby is thought to have begun. They played against the Barbarian F.C. and their old rivals, the Harlequins.

The 1980s were a great time for Wasps players in the England national team. In 1986, Wasps reached the final of the John Player Cup for the first time. They lost to Bath in a close game. They reached the final again the next year, but Bath won again. In 1990, Wasps, led by Rob Andrew, won their first Courage League title, becoming English champions!

In 1995, Wasps lost another final to Bath, this time in the Pilkington Cup. After winning the league title, Wasps often finished in the top three. However, they couldn't quite beat Bath, who were the best club at that time. In 1995–96, many thought Wasps could win the title again. But then Rob Andrew and other key players left for Newcastle Falcons. It looked like Wasps might struggle. But under their new captain, Lawrence Dallaglio, the club recovered and finished fourth. This earned them a spot in the Heineken Cup for the first time.

Becoming Professional: Wasps RFC (1996–1999)

The original Wasps logo used until 1999

In the 1996–97 season, Wasps won their second league championship. They were the first English champions in the new professional era of rugby. This was a big season off the field too. The club split into two parts. The professional team became part of Loftus Road Holdings PLC, who also owned Queens Park Rangers F.C.. This deal meant Wasps moved from their traditional home in Sudbury to share QPR's Loftus Road stadium.

In 1998, the professional Wasps team reached the final of the Tetley's Bitter Cup. They lost to a strong Saracens team. The next year, Wasps reached the final again and won! They beat Newcastle Falcons to claim their first cup final victory. In 2000, Wasps made it to the final for the third year in a row. They successfully defended their title, beating Northampton Saints.

London Wasps Era (1999–2014)

A match between Wasps and Perpignan in 2006

In 1999, the professional team changed its name to London Wasps. This was to show it was different from Wasps FC, which was the amateur part of the club. They also got a new logo that fit with the club's history.

In 2001, Shaun Edwards, a famous rugby league player, joined as a coach. Many people say he helped create Wasps' famous "Blitz Defence." This defense style helped stop other teams and created chances for Wasps to score. London Wasps agreed to move out of Loftus Road in 2002. This allowed Fulham F.C. to use the stadium while their own ground was being rebuilt. Wasps then moved to Adams Park, the home of Wycombe Wanderers F.C.. Wasps did so well at their new ground that they decided not to return to Loftus Road.

In the 2002–03 European Challenge Cup, Wasps reached the final and played against Bath. Even though Bath had beaten them in many finals before, Wasps won 48–30. They also beat Northampton Saints in the Premiership semi-final. Then, they faced Gloucester in the final at Twickenham. Wasps won their first English title since 1997, with a score of 39–3.

Wasps finished first in their group in the 2003–04 Heineken Cup. They beat Gloucester in the quarter-finals and Munster in the semi-finals. They met Toulouse in the final at Twickenham. Wasps became champions, beating the French team 27–20, and winning their first Heineken Cup. The very next week, Wasps beat Bath at Twickenham again. This meant they kept their title as England's champion team and won two major trophies in a row!

In December 2004, Wasps were disqualified from the Powergen Cup. This was because they played a player who wasn't allowed to play. Despite this, Wasps had a great season and won the English title for the second time in a row. They beat Leicester Tigers in the final.

Ian McGeechan became the new Director of Rugby for Wasps in the 2005–06 season. Wasps won the Powergen Anglo-Welsh Cup in 2006, beating Llanelli Scarlets in the final. Before the 2006–07 season, Wasps also won the Middlesex 7s tournament.

In 2007, three Wasps players – James Haskell, Joe Worsley, and Tom Rees – all played in the back row for England against Wales. This was the first time a single club provided the entire back row for the national team.

Wasps celebrate after their win in 2007

In the 2006–07 Heineken Cup, Wasps reached the quarter-finals and beat Leinster. In the semi-final, they beat Northampton. This earned them a spot in the Heineken Cup Final against Leicester Tigers at Twickenham. Leicester Tigers were the favorites to win. But Wasps started strong and won 25–9. They became 2007 champions thanks to penalties and tries from Raphaël Ibañez and Eoin Reddan.

In the 2007–08 season, Wasps went from 10th place in October to winning the Guinness Premiership Final against Leicester Tigers. This was a perfect farewell for the retiring captain, Lawrence Dallaglio. Wasps won 26–16 and became English champions in 2008. This was their sixth league title.

The 2008–09 season was tougher for Wasps. Many players didn't play their best after their captain retired. Wasps finished seventh and didn't reach the knockout stages of the European cups. In 2009, Ian McGeechan stepped down as Director of Rugby. Tony Hanks, a former coach, took over.

The 2009–10 season saw many key players leave Wasps. Despite this, Wasps reached the semi-final of the Amlin Cup but lost to Cardiff Blues. Shaun Edwards left the club in November 2011.

Wasps had a difficult 2011–12 season, finishing 11th. This was their lowest position in many years. They barely avoided being relegated from the Premiership. The season started well with wins against Saracens and Leicester. But then, many players got serious injuries.

In 2012, Dai Young brought in new players like Andrea Masi and Stephen Jones. He also welcomed back former Wasps players Tom Palmer and James Haskell. On October 12, 2013, Wasps set a new record for their biggest European win. They beat Viadana 90–17.

Moving to the West Midlands (2014–2022)

The Wasps Rugby logo used from 2014 to 2021

On June 30, 2014, the club announced they were dropping "London" from their name. They became simply Wasps again, just like before 1999.

In September 2014, news spread that Wasps were thinking about moving their home to the Ricoh Arena in Coventry. This would be a big move from their home in High Wycombe. In October 2014, Wasps announced they would play their home games at the Ricoh Arena starting in December 2014. On November 14, 2014, Wasps bought the remaining shares in the stadium. This made them the full owners of the facility.

Their first game as stadium owners was a big 48–16 win against London Irish on December 21, 2014.

The 2014–15 season saw Wasps finish 6th. Andy Goode was the top scorer in the Premiership that season. Things got better in the 2015–16 season, with Wasps finishing 3rd. They lost their play-off semi-final to Exeter Chiefs.

Wasps finished 1st in the 2016–17 regular season. However, they lost to Exeter Chiefs in the play-off final. In the 2017–18 season, Wasps finished 3rd. They lost to Saracens in the semi-final play-off. This season also marked 150 years since the club was founded. They celebrated with a special game against Bath Rugby.

The 2018–19 season saw Wasps finish 8th. They won 10 games and lost 12. The 2019–20 season showed huge improvement. Wasps finished 2nd in the league. They won their home semi-final against Bristol Bears 47–24. This earned them a spot in the Gallagher Premiership Final against Exeter Chiefs. However, Wasps were defeated 19–13.

The 2020–21 season was another dip for Wasps. They finished 8th and missed the play-offs. In May 2021, Wasps' home stadium was renamed the Coventry Building Society Arena. In July 2021, Wasps announced a new logo. This logo would unite all parts of Wasps, including the Netball team and amateur rugby sides.

Financial Troubles and Administration (2022)

On May 15, 2022, Wasps could not repay a £35 million loan they had taken out in 2015. They hoped to get new funding by August 13. But on that date, they still couldn't refinance the loan. The owner said they were not in administration and would not be.

However, on September 21, 2022, Wasps Holdings announced they planned to appoint administrators because of their financial problems. On October 12, the club was suspended from all tournaments. This was because they couldn't put a team on the field. On October 17, 2022, Wasps Holdings officially went into administration. All their players and coaches lost their jobs. The team's current results were removed, and they were moved down to the RFU Championship, the second level of English rugby. The club owed a total of £95 million.

On October 30, it was confirmed that a group had offered to buy the club. The RFU expected a decision before Christmas. On December 16, the club confirmed it had been successfully sold and was out of administration. They also met all the RFU's rules to join the Championship for the 2023–24 season. There were rumors they would stay in the West Midlands. They were thought to have agreed to share a ground with Solihull Moors.

Wasps were formally allowed to play in the Championship for the 2023–24 season on February 15, 2023. But this was changed on May 18, 2023. They failed to meet a deadline to confirm promises made when their license was approved. As a result, they will now be placed "at the bottom of the playing pyramid in tier ten" of the English rugby union system.

Future Plans: Proposed Move to Swanley

In 2023, there were talks about Wasps, now owned by Christopher Holland, building a new stadium. They are considering a multi-use stadium, training facilities, and a hotel near Swanley, Kent.

Club Rivalries

Wasps' main rival was Harlequins in London. Both clubs actually started from the same team, Hampstead Football Club. Wasps split from Hampstead (which later became Harlequins) in 1867 because of disagreements among members.

After Wasps moved to Coventry, they tried to create rivalries with other clubs in the Midlands of England. These included teams like Leicester Tigers and Northampton Saints. However, some rugby experts felt these games didn't have the long history that a true rivalry needs.

Wasps Netball

Wasps started a netball team in 2016 called Wasps Netball. They played their home games at the Indoor Arena - Coventry in the Coventry Building Society Arena.

In the 2018 and 2019 Netball Superleague seasons, Wasps Netball finished in first place. They won their second and third titles in a row. Wasps Netball also went into administration on October 17, 2022. All their players and coaches lost their jobs. On November 10, 2022, England Netball announced that Wasps Netball could no longer compete in the Netball Super League.

Home Grounds

Wasps' first home was in Finchley Road, North London. Later, they rented grounds in different parts of London. In 1923, the club moved to a permanent home at Repton Avenue, Sudbury, Middlesex. They eventually bought this ground.

Loftus Road

In 1996, Wasps moved to play their home games at Queens Park Rangers' stadium, Loftus Road, in West London. The old ground in Sudbury was later used for housing. However, the original clubhouse is still there and is now a community center.

Adams Park

Wasps moved again in 2002. This time, they went about 30 miles (48 km) west of London. They played their home games at Wycombe Wanderers F.C.'s ground, Adams Park, in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. After this move, the number of fans attending games went up by 31.8% the next season.

Between 2004 and 2015, Wasps took part in the London Double Header at Twickenham. This was a special event where two Premiership games were played on the same day. In 2006, this event drew a crowd of 51,950 people, setting a new record.

In 2007, Wasps, Wycombe Wanderers, and the local council planned to build a new stadium in High Wycombe. The preferred location was at Wycombe Air Park. This new stadium would have held 16,000–17,000 people. It would have been the first new football ground in England with standing areas since the Taylor Report. The plans also included shops, a hotel, and conference facilities. However, the stadium plans were turned down. In April 2013, Derek Richardson became the main owner of Wasps.

Coventry Building Society Arena

The Coventry Building Society Arena, Wasps' home ground from 2014 to 2022

Wasps first used the Ricoh Arena as a home venue for a game against Munster on November 10, 2007. This was during the 2007–08 Heineken Cup. They used it because it had a bigger capacity. The move was a success for the club financially. Wasps won the game 24–23 in front of 21,506 fans. However, many fans from London were unhappy because it was a long journey (almost 200 miles round-trip). The club said they had to move the match because Wycombe Wanderers had an FA Cup game on the same day.

On October 7, 2014, Wasps bought 50% of Arena Coventry Ltd. This company managed the Ricoh Arena. Wasps planned to move their base to the Midlands. After buying 100% of the company on November 14, 2014, Wasps played their first game in Coventry as owners on December 21, 2014. They won 48–16 against London Irish. At first, only the first team played home games there. But the club fully moved to Coventry before the 2016–17 season.

After the team went into administration in 2022, the Coventry Building Society Arena was bought by the Frasers Group on November 17, 2022. Wasps no longer used it as their home.

Club Honours

Wasps Rugby Football Club has won many titles throughout its history:

Premiership Rugby

'Champions: (6) 1989–90*, 1996–97, 2002–03^, 2003–04^, 2004–05^, 2007–08^ Runners-up: (6) 1987–88*, 1990–91*, 1992–93*, 2000–01^, 2016–17**, 2019–20

European Rugby Champions Cup
- Champions: (2) 2003–04^, 2006–07^
European Challenge Cup
- Champions: (1) 2002–03^
Anglo-Welsh Cup

'Champions: (3) 1998–99, 1999–2000^, 2005–06^ Runners-up: (4) 1985–86*, 1986–87*, 1994–95*, 1997–98

Middlesex Senior Cup
- Champions: (8) 1973–74*, 1974–75*, 1976–77*, 1977–78*, 1978–79*, 1981–82*, 1983–84*, 1986–87*
- Runners-up: (4) 1975–76*, 1979–80*, 1982–83*, 1985–86*

Wasps A (Academy Team)

Premiership Rugby Shield
- Champions: (2) 2006–07^, 2007–08^
- Runners-up: (2) 2004–05^, 2008–09^

Friendly Competitions

Middlesex Sevens
- Champions: (5) 1948*, 1952*, 1985*, 1993*, 2006^
- Runners-up: (4) 1933*, 1951*, 1996*, 2005^
Premiership Rugby Sevens Series

'Champions: (2) 2016**, 2017 Runners-up: (2) 2015**, 2018
* As Wasps FC – 1987–1996
** As Wasps RFC – 1996–1999 & 2014–2022
^ As London Wasps – 1999–2014

Coaches and Directors of Rugby

Here are some of the people who led the Wasps team:

Name	Years	Notes
?	1867–1981
Rob Smith	1981–1996
Nigel Melville	1996–2002
Warren Gatland	2002–2005
Ian McGeechan	2005–2009
Tony Hanks	2009–2011
Leon Holden	2011	Interim Director of Rugby for a short time
Dai Young	2011–2020
Lee Blackett	2020–2022	Last head coach before the club's suspension

Club Ownership

Irish businessman Derek Richardson became the main owner of the Wasps group in April 2013. He took the group from almost going bankrupt to entering administration in October 2022.

Team Kit

On April 29, 2021, Wasps announced a new deal with Hummel, a Danish sportswear company. Hummel became their official kit supplier and retail partner. Wasps was the first British rugby union team to work with Hummel.

Before Hummel, Wasps' kits were made by companies like Canterbury and Kukri. In 2012, Kukri made a blue away kit. This was different from the usual white or black and gold hoops. It was designed to support the charity MIND and help raise awareness about mental health in sports.

Famous Former Players

Many talented players have played for Wasps. Some have even represented their countries in the Rugby World Cup or toured with the British and Irish Lions.

Wasps Players at the Rugby World Cup

The following players played for their countries in the Rugby World Cup while they were playing for Wasps:

Tournament	Players selected	England players	Other national team players
1987	6	Rob Andrew, Mark Bailey, Huw Davies, Jeff Probyn, Paul Rendall, Kevin Simms
1991	4	Rob Andrew, Chris Oti, Jeff Probyn, Paul Rendall
1995	2	Rob Andrew, Damien Hopley
1999	6	Lawrence Dallaglio, Martyn Wood, Joe Worsley	Andy Reed, Kenny Logan , Trevor Leota
2003	6	Stuart Abbott, Lawrence Dallaglio, Josh Lewsey, Simon Shaw, Joe Worsley	Kenny Logan
2007	10	Lawrence Dallaglio, Josh Lewsey, Tom Rees, Paul Sackey, Simon Shaw, Joe Worsley, Phil Vickery (c)	Daniel Leo , Raphaël Ibañez (c) , Eoin Reddan
2011	9	Steve Thompson, Joe Simpson	Genaro Fessia , Victor Gresev, Vladislav Korshunov (c) , Paul Emerick , Tinus du Plessis, Heinz Koll , Zak Taulafo
2015	5	James Haskell, Joe Launchbury	Bradley Davies , Lorenzo Cittadini, Andrea Masi
2019	2	Joe Launchbury	Matteo Minozzi