Our women's elite team was aligned with Wasps RFC, but the team's registration with the RFU is unaffected, and the team will continue to participate in the Allianz premier 15s competition.

Wasps RFC provided valuable joint-funding to Wasps Women, and in a collective decision between players, staff and club, we will concentrate all immediate efforts on tailoring new funding to continue our high-performance environment at our West London base and to prepare for the league season.

With regret that means we will not travel to Bristol for our cup match this weekend. Bristol Bears Women will be disappointed, and we send our heartfelt apologies that, on this occasion, we have prioritised a need to re-build foundations above travel to this eagerly awaited fixture.

Rugby is a tight-knit community, and we feel sure that we can count on the understanding and solidarity of our rugby sisters and brothers in Bristol during this tough chapter of our history.