Wasps & Wuss new developments (and Irish too?)

[Mellsblue]

It is very odd there is no big rugby clubs in that area. You would have thought they would make up a large section of the twickenham crowd.

You’d think and hope so but then, by the same logic, you’d think filling the Principality Stadium would lead to big crowds for the Welsh regions.

[TheDasher]

Yes to a pro team in the Amex, where are you from, Dasher? I grew up in Lewes.

However, it seems a shame the west midlands no longer have a pro club. Bit odd that there isn't a Brummie team at the top. A lot of rugby clubs round that way.

Hi mate - I grew up in the Lewes area too (love it) - over on the Kent border now which is prettier but not the same!

I used to dream of making a fortune and turning Lewes RFC or somewhere in Sussex into the next Saracens... Not happening unfortunately!

How funny. Did you ever run out on the blue?

Living in Sweden, I miss Lewes something terrible. People ask me if I miss England but I usually say I actually miss Lewes/Sussex. It rather limits the job options when I periodically look at returning... I don't think I'd turn Lewes into Sarries but I'd definitely fix the boiler in the changing rooms. That'd be miracle enough.

Sorry mate, missed this - no I didn't - went to some mini rugby things there but ultimately played school rugby, county rugby and university - I did play club rugby a couple of times for Brighton for a friend who needed help with player numbers, but never Lewes, which I regret.

It's a great area - feels like it's own little world down there, even though it's only 90 mins from London, sadly, getting closer and closer it seems. I'd stay in Sweden if I were you!

[Mellsblue]

https://x.com/tomjgarry/status/17689227 ... MV3j-SK8yQ

Potential LI investor.

[Margin_Walker]

https://x.com/tomjgarry/status/17689227 ... MV3j-SK8yQ

Potential LI investor.

Nice to see something break the radio silence, but I'll believe it when I see it. He seems a bit small time on first glance. I'd want to know how much money he actually has access to, as getting things off the ground won't be cheap.

[FKAS]

A quick look suggests he's got a company that helps start ups get funding. Presumably he's got contacts with some serious investment as well as any funding he has.

It'll come down to whether LI still own their training ground etc. If those assets are all sold off and it's just the name and branding left they will be available quite cheap. The training ground would increase the value of any investment. The issue of finding somewhere to actually play the games would be a sizeable issue as would trying to rebuild the side and academy from fresh.

[Margin_Walker]

A quick look suggests he's got a company that helps start ups get funding. Presumably he's got contacts with some serious investment as well as any funding he has.

It'll come down to whether LI still own their training ground etc. If those assets are all sold off and it's just the name and branding left they will be available quite cheap. The training ground would increase the value of any investment. The issue of finding somewhere to actually play the games would be a sizeable issue as would trying to rebuild the side and academy from fresh.

The training ground wont still be owned. London Irish essentially owed more than their assets. However if Crossan has retained it as an asset as part of the debt owed to him and wasn't looking to sell in the short term, there may be a route towards utilising it.

Even if they did have access to it though at an affordable rate, the costs involved in setting up a Championship ready pro setup from scratch would dwarf anything he seems to have funded to date. You've got to find somewhere to play, hire a backroom team, a squad and everything else that goes along with it. There's little evidence of any serious spending anywhere at first glance. Just a website for the investment vehicle and a few links to either the third tier women's football club, the franchise in Canada or Companies House listings for a few other recently incorporated companies with little or no money going through them.

Perhaps I'm naturally pessimistic, but we'll see.

[Banquo]

A quick look suggests he's got a company that helps start ups get funding. Presumably he's got contacts with some serious investment as well as any funding he has.

It'll come down to whether LI still own their training ground etc. If those assets are all sold off and it's just the name and branding left they will be available quite cheap. The training ground would increase the value of any investment. The issue of finding somewhere to actually play the games would be a sizeable issue as would trying to rebuild the side and academy from fresh.

The training ground wont still be owned. London Irish essentially owed more than their assets. However if Crossan has retained it as an asset as part of the debt owed to him and wasn't looking to sell in the short term, there may be a route towards utilising it.

Even if they did have access to it though at an affordable rate, the costs involved in setting up a Championship ready pro setup from scratch would dwarf anything he seems to have funded to date. You've got to find somewhere to play, hire a backroom team, a squad and everything else that goes along with it. There's little evidence of any serious spending anywhere at first glance. Just a website for the investment vehicle and a few links to either the third tier women's football club, the franchise in Canada or Companies House listings for a few other recently incorporated companies with little or no money going through them.

Perhaps I'm naturally pessimistic, but we'll see.

There's a ton of resistance to all the phoenix clubs from the Champ clubs as well. Not sure any have applied either.

[Margin_Walker]

Sure. Clearly that would be the next hurdle, even if there was any money.

[Galfon]

The Rovers Return - fair bit to happen before back in the big time, surely.
.https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union ... 6l0rd7yqgo

[Banquo]

They have to discharge their debts before they can rejoin in theory. Suspect that would include covid loans etc.

[Galfon]

The revamped Tier2 competition for 25/26 might have another
returner
https://warriors.co.uk/news/worcester-w ... submitted/
The Loxwood/Atlas thing will now presumably keep Sixways as the home for Wuss, in this time frame.

[Puja]

And another one maybe coming back to life - London Irish takeover agreed in principle: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union ... ip-return/

Loitz has offered around £2.5 million to buy the Irish brand and intellectual property, as well as committing to pay off £2.7 million in debts to rugby creditors, which is an RFU stipulation for returning to the Championship. The proposed deal also gives Irish a three-year lease at their former training ground in Sunbury, a state-of-the-art facility that has been used as a base by NFL franchises playing in London, as well as an option to purchase the 64-acre site.

Sounds pretty promising. The article suggests that they're in talks with Brentford about returning but, if Brentford continue to be not keen on that idea, then another option is to step in at AFC Wimbledon's Plough Lane, possibly replacing London Broncos if they go under.

Puja

[Banquo]

Its all a great big joke tbh. 21 clubs have applied, and all being scrutinised prior to a tender being issued; there is one place up for grabs in the champ as it stands. I'd really hope the RFU financial diligence team are doing a proper job.

[Mellsblue]

Its all a great big joke tbh. 21 clubs have applied, and all being scrutinised prior to a tender being issued; there is one place up for grabs in the champ as it stands. I'd really hope the RFU financial diligence team are doing a proper job.

It’s the hope that really kills you.

[Galfon]

LI - a phoenix with big aspirations ?
30M was a big offset, but Jordan Associates seem confident of the support with the different fan-based model.
Sad to read about EJ, but this may be a big spur for his son in a way. ('West London' venue apparently.).

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union ... d5w963n78o

[FKAS]

LI - a phoenix with big aspirations ?
30M was a big offset, but Jordan Associates seem confident of the support with the different fan-based model.
Sad to read about EJ, but this may be a big spur for his son in a way. ('West London' venue apparently.).

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union ... d5w963n78o

Yeah it's a shame to hear about Eddie being ill. He's managed to run a lot of businesses and make money without screwing people over to do it (or at least none I've heard of) which is always nice. He's been around the block not to throw money away and the idea of it being part fan owned is also positive.

[fivepointer]

Further developments -

The Rugby Football Union is set to block a request from London Irish to leave the English game and join the United Rugby Championship.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/ ... ked-by-rfu

[FKAS]

Further developments -

The Rugby Football Union is set to block a request from London Irish to leave the English game and join the United Rugby Championship.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/ ... ked-by-rfu

Wow what a shock... Not. No way they were going to create a precedent for that.

To be honest LI would probably be best rebuilding from the Championship anyway, to jump up to a big league straightaway is just going to create a London Welsh but worse situation. The Championship is of course underfunded but if you want to build a squad and culture from nothing it's a better place. That's before the issue of academy comes back up.

[Mellsblue]

LI would be best building from London 5 (or whatever their lowest local league is), once they’ve got a training facility, ground, players and coaching staff.

[Banquo]

LI would be best building from London 5 (or whatever their lowest local league is), once they’ve got a training facility, ground, players and coaching staff.

Really torn on Phoenix clubs...sure the brand name and any fan base would be useful commercially in the Champ, but on the other hand sides like Doncaster, Chinnor, Ampthill, Cambridge have fought their way up several leagues (and with different models) to get to the Champ without going bust and leaving the tax payer heavily out of pocket; LI, Wasps and esp Worcester if you were kind 'overstretched', and if you were unkind either took the piss or took their supporters for a ride. Yeah new owners and all that I suppose, but for those in charge of Donny etc, bitter pill to swallow, esp after funding being cut from 750k to c £180k tops this year,