Wasps thrown out of Powergen Cup

European champions Wasps were on Thursday kicked out of the Powergen Cup for fielding an ineligible player in their sixth round victory over Bristol Shoguns last weekend.

The Rugby Football Union move, unprecedented for a top English club, means Bristol will take Wasps’ quarter final place and visit Gloucester on January 22.

Hooker Jonny Barrett, aged 25, is the cup-tied player in question, and Wasps have accepted the decision with no plan to appeal.

It is a huge blow for Lawrence Dallaglio’s men, given that they are struggling to qualify for the Heineken Cup knockout stages following back-to-back defeats earlier this month against arch rivals Leicester.

Bristol pushed their illustrious opponents all the way before bowing out 40-33 after extra-time, put the English National League One leaders can now look forward to a mouth-watering west country derby at Kingsholm.

Wasps, meanwhile, have got to pick themselves up quickly following a dismal few weeks, starting with their Zurich Premiership game – ironically at home to Gloucester – on Monday.