Change of name ground city- egg chaser related

As well as being a hammer for 46 years I have been a supporter of Wasps RFC for many years, my cousin who I played rugby with for the Met was a Wasps first team player back in the amateur days. Today on the news it was announced that 'London' Wasps, who have played at Wycombe Wanderers ground for a number of years will be moving to Coventry and playing at the Ricoh arena, home of Coventry City. They will be known as Coventry Wasps! London Irish play at Reading, London Welsh at Oxford Utd and for a long time Saracens played at Watford. Wasps for those who don't know are one of the biggest names in rugby union having won the European cup several times, although not since 2007.

I've decided that I can no longer call myself a Wasps supporter as they clearly have little regard for their fan base. How do you think this sort of thing would pan out in football? the only example I can think of is MK Dons? How would you feel if West Ham lost the Olympic stadium and decided to move to Colchester, Harlow or even further afield?

Stockholm would be nice

Wot a stoopid idea, yours as well Geeze. 

If West Ham moved out of East, East, East London and changed their name accordingly, I would deny all knowledge of them.

I think it is ridiculous Motty. They will lose a lot of fans over this move

I am close to Tom Varndell (he is my nephew by my late foster brother). I have text him today to find out his thoughts. He will be probably be diplomatic but he lives in Ealing. He will not be impressed with the club moving up the M1/M6

PS If you ever want complimentary tickets just ask mate

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Sarries lost fans when they moved from Enfield to Watford - although, to be fair, they never had that many to start with.
They built a fanbase at watford but lost some of it when they handed the club over to the Saffers - according to my Sarries supporting, mate.

I don't mind MK Dons, but then I always hated Wimbledon, so that's probably why!


Is Coventry a rugby playing area?  I've never thought of the West Midlands as being particularly interested in egg chasing of the "posh" variety!

Can't see Leicester being too pleased about this.

Why d1o they want 20000 plus seater anyhow?? Surely Brentford ground big enough (and close!!)

The FA are looking t2o move England games from Wembley to make way for NFL franchise - nothing is sacred now!

And us Hammers moan about moving up the road!

There is Leicester & Northampton but they are East Midlands, aren't they? (Not much in it, I know)

Aren't Brentford building a new ground? What's happening to Griffin Park?

Wasn't bringing Leics into the equation as you had mentioned W.Mids but more for the closeness of them. It's bound to affect attendances somewhere along the line.

Coventry Wasps will get support, purely for the novelty-but they're gonna have to work bloody hard to build it and sustain it for the future-certainly won't get the travelling fan (unless Wasps are the Man Utd of the Rugby world!)

Actually Coventry is not that far from Rugby!!

And yes, both Brentford and (rumblings of) QPR getting new grounds, in the locale, makes you wonder. Suppose the attraction, from a business point of view, is having a facility to rent out and make use of - more than just a rugby ground; already with tenants, in the shape of Coventry City.

No problems JDLK! 

I just thought I may have made a prick of myself by saying there were no RU clubs in the area when in fact there are 2 of the biggest in the country!
Trying to cover up my embarassment!

Johnny K wrote:No problems JDLK! 

I just thought I may have made a prick of myself by saying there were no RU clubs in the area when in fact there are 2 of the biggest in the country!
Trying to cover up my embarassment!

Bloody foreigners....

I would say the rugby club who will be most pissed off is Coventry RFC themselves !

How could the RFU let another side move into the same area? Poor

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A man who spent nearly 40 years at Wasps Rugby Club says the move to Coventry will break "partnerships" with local people near their current home.

Former player and director of rugby Rob Smith said he would not go to the Ricoh Arena, which the club are to buy into.

He said Wasps had links with schools near their High Wycombe home.

Coventry councillors are supporting a deal to sell the council's 50% share in ACL - the company that runs the Ricoh Arena - to the Premiership club.

Wasps have said the decision to move has not been taken lightly.

'Too far'
Mr Smith said: "You've got (Leicester) Tigers, you've got Northampton Saints, you've got Worcester... and Coventry Rugby Club itself.

"They've been into the (local) clubs, into the schools trying to drum up their support for their clubs for some 20 years or more - or a lot longer in the case of Coventry itself.

"We've been doing the same in our area in Buckinghamshire, in Middlesex and Oxfordshire and all those links and all those partnerships that have been built up over a long, long time with clubs are going to be broken."

The former player said the Ricoh Arena was "too far away" for him to travel to.

But he said Wasps' relationship with Coventry Rugby Club, who play at the Butts Park Arena, could be "a very positive one in the end".

Wasps v Newcastle Falcons in High Wycombe
Wasps used to be based in London, but have played in High Wycombe for 12 years
The Rugby Football Union (RFU) said the Professional Game Board (PGB) have also agreed to the Ricoh Arena deal.

Wasps chief executive Nick Eastwood has said the club would continue to communicate with season ticket holders to explain what they would offer them to thank them for their loyalty.

He has said: "The reality of our situation is clear - less than two years ago Wasps was just hours away from going out of business."

Wasps' relocation to the West Midlands would be purely for matches and will not come into conflict with the academy systems run by the neighbouring professional clubs to the Coventry area, the club has said.