Wasps owner stung by Woodward criticism

Wasps owner Chris Wright tonight hit back at criticism by former England coach Clive Woodward on the contentious subject of international player release.

Woodward, during his farewell press conference at Twickenham today, identified the matter as a major problem, directing his frustration at England’s Premiership rugby directors, club owners and the Rugby Football Union.

But Wright – whose Wasps squad includes England World Cup-winners Lawrence Dallaglio, Josh Lewsey and Joe Worsley – responded angrily.

“It is ridiculous for people to keep having a pop at us. I am utterly fed up with it,” Wright told BBC Sport.

“Club owners are the ones that have invested their resources in rugby. We have put the show on the road.

“Clive has had as much player release as he would expect to have. He has more than the England football team.

“We feel that the balance is right. The player release is adequate for a national team that plays a few games in the autumn, spring and in the summer.

“In a normal structured season, including the autumn internationals, it is perfectly manageable. Last year was a one-off.

“Rugby is not just about the England team. In the Heineken Cup last season, 50,000 people saw Munster play Wasps in what is regarded as one of the greatest rugby games of all time.

“When England are playing, over 70,000 people go to Twickenham, but a similar number of people go to see the clubs. When Wasps are playing Gloucester, or Northampton are playing Leicester, those games are just as important as England.

“After the World Cup, Clive came out and publicly thanked the clubs for providing the foundations. It can’t be right a year ago, but wrong now.

“Players in England are playing in the best league in the world. The French league has gone up to 16 clubs and has already started, but there is no whinging from over there.”