Wasps have Championship licence revoked by Rugby Football Union

The RFU granted permission to play in the Championship in December

Wasps continue to unravel after they were removed from next season’s Championship (Jacob King/PA)

Wasps must begin rebuilding from the bottom of the league pyramid after the Rugby Football Union revoked their licence to play in next season’s Championship.

Hopes that new owners HALO22 Limited could relaunch Wasps in the second tier have been dashed due to their failure to meet an RFU deadline for proving the club could still operate at the required level.