Wasps plan to move to Kent and want new stadium in county

Former Premiership side Wasps are aiming to move to Kent and build a new stadium in the county.

The club went into administration a year ago and were removed from the Premiership as a result.

It would be a fifth home for Wasps, who spent most of their existence in two London locations before moves to High Wycombe in 2002 and Coventry in 2014.

The club are "actively engaged with Sevenoaks District Council to identify a suitable location".

A statement by the two-time European champions and six-time Premiership winners - who had £95m worth of debts when the club went into administration - said: "This move signifies a new chapter in the club's journey, reaffirming its commitment to professional rugby.

"Having faced significant challenges with regulation and funding, the club has persisted with its determination to revive Wasps at the highest possible level."

A Sevenoaks District Council spokesman said Wasps were considering building a multi-use stadium, training facilities and a hotel on the outskirts of Swanley.

The spokesman said members of the public would be able to have their say on the proposals when the council began its latest consultation on its local plan next month.

"As a former top-tier club, with an international profile, we firmly believe this is a once-in-a- generation opportunity," the spokesman added.

"Wasps would bring unparalleled economic, sports development, health, education, and skills benefits to the district and we are keen to explore how that could be achieved."

While Wasps' plans for a new ground go through the planning process, they said they were "actively exploring temporary facilities to underpin its operations in Kent", but could use the home of another former Premiership side that went bust last year - Worcester Warriors - in the short term.

Wasps owner Chris Holland is now the majority shareholder of Worcester after his firm Loxwood Holdings bought the stake of former owners Atlas.

"Whilst determined to establish a base in the south east of England, the club has also agreed an option of utilising Worcester Warriors' Sixways ground for both training and playing purposes, without in any way replacing Worcester Warriors RFC and indeed committed to assisting their return to competitive rugby," the club statement said.

"Our determination to secure a new, sustainable future for the club has never been stronger.

"By working with Sevenoaks District Council, we hope to build a long-lasting legacy that acknowledges our storied past and charts an ambitious future."

The level of competition Wasps would play at if they returned to action is unclear.

Last week Holland said he wanted the two-time European champions to return to the "highest level possible", but may need to wait until the 2025-26 season to do so.

In May, the Rugby Football Union said the club would have to return to the bottom of the English league pyramid after they failed to meet a deadline to allow them to return to the Championship this season.

But with a new Professional Game Agreement due to come into force next summer there has been talk of a revamped second tier from the summer of 2025.

It could see Wasps, Worcester and London Irish - the other Premiership shareholders who went bust last season - be given the chance to restart life in what has been dubbed 'Premiership Two'.

Should Wasps have to start at a level below the nationwide third tier, it would make playing games in Worcester difficult as leagues are regionalised - Kent-based sides feed up into National League Two East while teams in the Midlands feed up to National League Two West.

If they are forced to play at the bottom of the rugby pyramid in Kent, it would mean starting in the 11th-tier Counties 5 Kent division.