So Wasps should have played Sale?

Thursday 10 December 2009
Published By: Ben Welch
Guinness Premiership > London Wasps

Wasps shouldn't have walked away from their scheduled match with Sale Sharks on November 27th and the fixture should have gone ahead because the referee felt the Edgeley Park playing surface was safe.

At least this appears to be the suggestion of a disciplinary ruling by a Premier Rugby panel if you dig past the bit where official David Rose is blamed for the debacle.

Had Rose invoked the right bit of the rulebook and insisted that the match should be played Wasps could've ended up in big trouble, as it seems there was no justifiable reason for a postponement.

Instead, they escaped punishment on a technicality - because the ref didn't explain properly that it was his decision to make and that the match should kick-off, Wasps couldn't have actually 'refused' to play.

Sale are scheduled to respond to the ruling today, but last night Brian Kennedy revealed he has elected not to take legal action.

"I have told them to concentrate on running the business and on playing rugby," he said to the club's official website.

At least someone is willing to play.