BOSSES at Worcester Warriors have insisted they have “nothing to fear” after London Wasps agreed to up sticks and move to Coventry.
Speaking for the first time since Wasps struck a deal last month to play their home games at the Ricoh Arena, interim chief executive Anthony Glossop welcomed the move as he believed it could turn the Midlands into a “rugby region”.
Speculation has also arisen that the Aviva Premiership club may move their academy to Coventry, which could harm Worcester’s efforts to harvest talented youngsters in the area.
But Glossop told The Observer they were confident they would continue to reap the rewards of their newly-established academy centre at Barkers Butts Rugby Club.
“Coventry is one of six regional centres which we have got and we are very proud of that,” he said. “We have also got a connection with Warwick School, so we are not Johnny-Come-Lately over that side.
“Wasps’ move may change where we focus our priorities, but we are pleased to have an academy there as it has recruited well already. There is some good talent there and Wasps will undoubtedly be after that.”
Glossop also felt Wasps’ move was a “one-off” as he described Coventry as a “rugby city which had missed out” and he insisted he cannot see other club’s following suit.
But he believes the current High Wycombe based-side’s arrival to the Midlands, with their first game at the Ricoh taking place next month, should be welcomed by top flight sides in the region.
“If someone else decided to move and pop their franchise I would struggle to think of any areas where they could go,” he said.
“The Ricoh needed an occupier and I would expect that Wasps were welcomed. It is also a rugby city without a Championship or Premiership club, so they are rare circumstances.
“But in the long-term I think it is good for Midlands rugby because when we are back in the Premiership I think it will go a long way to start shifting the emphasis from football to rugby in the area.
“I think we have nothing to fear as it will collectively encourage more people to watch rugby.
“Our matches against Leicester have always been near sell-outs even when we were playing poorly, so that means we will probably sell out against Wasps as it will become another Midlands derby.”
Warriors return to league action on Friday (7.45pm) when they take on Bedford Blues at Sixways.