My Wasps are too big to go down
FURY AT DALLAGLIO PLEA
LAWRENCE DALLAGLIO sparked fury in Worcester by suggesting Wasps should be treated differently if, as expected, they join Warriors in administration.
Wasps, who conceded two lastminute tries as they lost to Northampton, have a week to find £2million for an unpaid tax bill. If they fail, they will be in line for the same fate as Worcester, who went into administration and were last week relegated.
Club great Dallaglio said he hoped a “solvent” solution could be found but if it could not, that Wasps’ rich pedigree should save them from Worcester’s fate.
“They [RFU] will say that any club that’s in administration has to go the same way as Worcester,” said Dallaglio. “But the reality is, do you want to lose one of the biggest brands in club rugby, in world rugby and one of the brands that’s been one of the most successful sides in the Premiership? Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.”
However, former Worcester team manager Luke Broadley asked: “Is this for real?”
Jim O’Toole, who is leading a consortium to buy Warriors, said: . “Big brand. Big bond. Big balls up. Someone hand him the straw he can’t quite reach.” It might be a coincidence but as Dallaglio spoke Sky Sports reported that former Wasps boss David Armstrong was fronting a £50m-plus takeover bid and had requested the club be spared from relegation.
Amid this turmoil, Lee Blackett thought his players had delivered a morale-boosting win in front of a sparse crowd in Coventry.
But with 10 minutes left and up by 12 points, they had Jacob Umaga sent off and collapsed, conceding three tries, with Courtnall Skosan getting the last. WASPS - Tries: J Willis, Odogwu, Oghre, Atkinson. Cons: Umaga (2). Pens: Umaga (3), Haydon-Wood. SAINTS - Tries: Coles (2), Sleightholme, Penalty, Skosan. Cons: Furbank, Hutchinson. Pens: Biggar (3).