London Wasps

London Wasps is an English rugby union team. It is currently in the Guinness Premiership league.

History

Wasps Football Club was originally formed in 1867 at the now defunct Eton and Middlesex Tavern in North London.

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The club gained its name because of the fashion of the Victorian period for clubs to adopt the names of insects, birds and animals. As a reasonably well-established club, Wasps were invited to join the Union and were eligible to be founder members. So they would have been had it not been for a mix-up that led to them not being present at the inauguration ceremony. In true rugby fashion the team turned up at the wrong pub, on the wrong day, at the wrong time and so forfeited their right to be called founder members.

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Wasp's first home was in Finchley Road, North London although subsequent years saw grounds being rented in various parts of London.

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In 1923 Wasps moved to a permanent home at Sudbury, Middlesex, eventually buying the ground outright. Although the team currently play home matches at Adams Park, High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire, the Sudbury clubhouse still exists and Sudbury is still considered the Club's spiritual home.

Related Topics:
Sudbury - Middlesex - Adams Park - High Wycombe - Buckinghamshire

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London Wasps is the name used by the professional side of the club as a marketing move in order to identify with the city more. The amateur side of the club still uses the name Wasps Football Club.

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In 2001 ex-Wigan rugby league star Shaun Edwards joined as a coach. He has largely been credited with creating Wasp's famous 'blitz' defence that stops teams and is the basis for Wasps' own scoring chances.

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On 23 December, 2004 it was announced by the Rugby Football Union that the team was to be disqualified from the Powergen Cup for fielding an ineligible player, hooker Jonny Barrett.

Related Topics:
23 December - 2004 - Rugby Football Union - Powergen Cup - Hooker

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Ian McGeechan is the new Director of Rugby at Wasps from the 2005/06 season, taking over from Warren Gatland who has returned to New Zealand following 3 very successful years at the club.

Related Topics:
Ian McGeechan - Warren Gatland

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