Wasps fall victim to freak cold snap

A review of the factors that led to the referee calling off London Wasps' Guinness Premiership game against Sale just 20 minutes before kick off last night has concluded that the game fell victim to a 'cold sink effect' caused by the location of the stadium.

Whilst the surrounding area experienced no frost until much later in the evening, the temperature inside Adams Park on Sunday afternoon dropped suddenly and dramatically and one half of the pitch ' nearest the Frank Adams Stand - which was in prime playing condition at 3pm, became frozen and was ruled unplayable by the referee less than half an hour before the game was due to kick off.

Though Adams Park is fitted with undersoil heating, the speed and unexpected nature of the cold snap negated its use. With the South East of England experiencing extremely mild, spring like conditions in the days leading up to the match, and with no frost expected, the undersoil heating had not been employed prior to the game and would have had no effect had it had been turned on at such short notice ' undersoil heating taking, on average, a good two or three days to provide the protection needed to stop such a hard frost taking a grip.

Reflecting on the events of yesterday evening, London Wasps Chief Executive, Tony Copsey said, 'It is obviously very unfortunate that the game was called off at such short notice, but in such a situation the safety of the players has to be paramount. With the pitch on the far side too solid to take a stud half an hour before the game was due to kick off, coaches from both sides agreed with the referee that this presented an unacceptable safety hazard and consequently the game was called off.

'The conditions which led to the postponement were quite unique, caused by the location of our stadium and the unexpected drop in temperature so early in the day. Adams Park is located at the head of a valley which creates a microclimate in that very small, localised area. This can create a 'cold sink effect', and prompted Wycombe Wanderers to install undersoil heating when a new pitch was laid on Wasps arrival at Adams Park in 2001.

'However, undersoil heating is designed to stave off a freeze before a frost takes a grip but as no one, weather experts included, had predicted a drop in temperature so early in the evening, or so quickly, we were advised of no requirement to use the undersoil heating prior to game day. If we had turned it on as soon as we were aware of the drop in temperature, it would have been unable to thaw the pitch once the frost had taken hold.'

'Having reviewed events with our colleagues at Wycombe Wanderers, we are happy that there was nothing that the staff at Wasps or Wycombe Wanderers could have done to prevent such an unforeseen turn of events.

'However, the postponement was obviously a disappointment to the large number of supporters who had turned out for the game last night and we would like to apologise to all of them for the inconvenience caused, particularly to those who had travelled long distances to attend the game. We would also like to thank everyone for the patience and understanding they showed on hearing the news, and reassure everyone that their tickets will be valid for either the re-arranged game or an alternative match, or can be exchanged for a full refund.

'We are currently unable to give supporters any further information on when the re-arranged date may be announced, and the congested nature of the fixture list for both ourselves and Sale means that we would ask everyone to bear with us whilst we negotiate a new date.

Ticket Information:

Information for Season Ticket Holders on how to gain access to the re-arranged Wasps v Sale game will follow shortly.

Supporters with match tickets to yesterday's Wasps v Sale game may use those tickets to gain access to the re-arranged game, exchange them for tickets to an alternative game (subject to availability) or claim a full refund

To claim a refund or exchange for an alternative match, supporters should call our Ticket Office in the first instance. All refunds and exchanges will only be given in exchange for a Wasps v Sale match ticket.

To attend the re-arranged Wasps v Sale game, supporters merely need to retain their match tickets, which will grant them access on the re-arranged date.