Science Fair Project Encyclopedia
London Wasps
London Wasps is an English rugby union team. It is currently in the Zurich Premiership league.
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History
Wasps RUFC was originally formed in 1867 at the now defunct Eton and Middlesex Tavern in North London.
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. And 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.
The Club's first home was in Finchley Road, North London although subsequent years saw grounds being rented in various parts of London.
In 1923 Wasps moved to their previous home of Sudbury, eventually buying the ground outright. Although the team currently play at Adams Park, High Wycombe, on home matchdays, the Sudbury clubhouse still exists and Sudbury is still considered the Club's spiritual home.
London was added to their name after the game went professional as a marketing move in order to identify with the city more.
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 Wasp's own scoring chances.
Notable Wasps players include English international representatives Lawrence Dallaglio and Josh Lewsey.
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.
Current England elite squad
- Stuart Abbott
- Lawrence Dallaglio
- Matt Dawson
- Alex King
- Josh Lewsey
- Simon Shaw
- Joe Worsley
Club honours
1989/90 1996/97 2002/03 (won play-offs) 2003/04 (won play-offs)
- Tetley's Bitter Cup 1999 2000
- Heineken Cup 2003/2004
- Parker Pen Shield 2003
External links
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