Aviva Premiership: Wasps to start playing in Coventry in December

Wasps are planning to stage their first game in Coventry against Castres or London Irish in December.

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The Aviva Premiership club have become the joint owners of the Ricoh Arena, acquiring a 50% interest in Arena Coventry Limited from Coventry City Council.

Wasps will continue to play at their Adams Park home in Wycombe until December, when their grand opening in Coventry will be either a European Rugby Champions Cup game against Castres or a domestic league date with the Exiles.

The club will not add Coventry to its' name though, remaining as Wasps, and the club has told Sky Sports they will look to add to their 50% shareholding in ACL.

The move has angered supporters but Wasps chief executive Nick Eastwood insists the decision was undertaken in the best interests of the club, who will play their matches on Sundays as Coventry City have primacy of tenure and will play on Saturdays under Football League rules.

“Today’s announcement is a watershed moment in the history of Wasps and the professional game. It will help us realise our ambition to re-establish ourselves as one of the best teams in Europe and will guarantee the long term success of the club," Eastwood said in a statement.

Today’s announcement is a watershed moment in the history of Wasps

“Creating long term financial stability will allow us to focus on the main job of producing high quality rugby of which our supporters and players can be proud and will help to recruit some of the best players in the world.

Reality

“We fully appreciate this move will unsettle many of our supporters and I would like to stress that this decision has not been taken lightly. The reality of our situation is clear - less than two years ago Wasps was just hours away from going out of business. It is only thanks to our current owner Derek Richardson stepping in that we are here today.

"Thanks to his support we have gone from strength to strength, returning to the top competition in Europe and competing and winning against some of the best teams in world rugby.

“I’m sure our supporters will have many questions. We have contacted, and will continue to communicate with our season ticket holders directly, to explain our reasoning behind the move and to highlight what we will offer them to thank them for their loyalty and support.

“I would also ask supporters to visit the club website where they will find comprehensive information about the Ricoh Arena and more detailed explanations about the reasons behind the move. We are realistic and understand the hurdles, but Wasps have never been a club to shirk a challenge and we are not about to start now."

The move is also being backed by Premiership Rugby, whose chief executive Mark McCafferty said: "We have no doubt this was a very difficult decision to make, for all those involved, but we know the club has considered all options and concluded that it is the best route to secure Wasps' long-term future.

“It is a positive and significant move by a club determined to re-assert itself at the top of the domestic and European game. 

“The stadium boasts world-class facilities and has already hosted highly successful European and Anglo Welsh fixtures. The Ricoh Arena will enhance the experience for both supporters and players as the club begins the next phase of its development, and we look forward to seeing Wasps there shortly."