Wasps could ground-share with Charlton Athletic if their bid to rejoin English rugby’s second tier is successful for the 2025/26 season, reports suggest.
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The historic rugby union side is reportedly aiming to re-establish itself as a top-flight professional club in Kent, where the current lack of a major rugby presence and 63 community clubs represent an ‘untapped’ potential for growth.
The Valley, Charlton’s home ground, is situated just across the border in southeast London, although a significant portion of the Addicks’ fan base hails from Kent. Gillingham is the only other EFL club in the county.
Wasps, who were a dominant force in English rugby, entered administration in October 2022 with debts nearing £95 million. The club was based at Coventry City’s Ricoh Arena, which they owned outright from 2014 until their financial collapse.
As part of their restructuring efforts, Wasps initially proposed building a new 28,000-seat stadium on a greenbelt site near Sevenoaks, Kent. However, the plan faced strong local opposition, with 85 per cent of surveyed residents opposing the development.
According to The Times, Wasps have now secured the use of The Valley, where a new hybrid pitch was installed over the summer, as they target a return to competitive action in the near future.
“25 awarded” – Big names miss out on England Central Contracts
RUCK has made bold predictions regarding the 25 players poised to snag central contracts from the RFU for the forthcoming 2024/25 season.
Leading the pack are Maro Itoje and Jamie George, integral figures in Steve Borthwick’s England squad, who have clinched coveted “enhanced hybrid contracts” courtesy of the Rugby Football Union (RFU), ensuring their continued allegiance to their Premiership clubs.
This preemptive action safeguards England’s chances by preventing Itoje and George from becoming casualties of the ongoing trend of top-tier players departing for foreign shores, thus preserving their eligibility for national team selection.
However, the contract allocation is poised to leave some notable figures out in the cold, as only two slots have been secured thus far, leaving 23 coveted contracts yet to be finalised. The suspense mounts as speculation swirls over which players will secure the remaining spots and who might miss out on this lucrative opportunity.
Front-row: 5
1. Ellis Genge
2. Dan Cole
3. Jamie George
4. Theo Dan
5. Will Stuart
6. Fin Baxter
Second-row: 3
1. Maro Itoje
2. Ollie Chessum
3. George Martin