The Londoners came under fire after they walked away from their Premiership match just minutes before kick-off.
Wasps claimed surface water down one channel of the pitch had made the surface unsafe, even though referee David Rose was happy for the game to be played. Wasps boarded their bus back around 7.30pm, forcing the match to be postponed.
Sale claimed the pitch was perfectly playable and director of rugby Kingsley Jones said: "I'm not happy about it and I'm really disappointed for the players.
“I'm sure the Wasps players aren't as disappointed as they got on their bus.
“All our preparation has been wasted. The referee basically said that Wasps weren't happy to play the ground on safety grounds.
“He was happy to take the field of play but he cannot force either team to take the field of play.”
Jones added: “I've played in much worse conditions than this. But Wasps were on their bus back home at 7.25pm and they made the decision that they weren't going to play the game.”
It's the second time in three seasons Wasps have been involved in an 11th hour call-off against the Sharks and angry Sale officials have promised fans free admission for the re-scheduled game.
"We're looking into the legal and the financial position," said a furious Kennedy. "We're not going to lie down on this one. The cost to the club could run into hundreds of thousands of pounds for us."
Sale chief executive James Jennings challenged Premier Rugby - the umbrella organisation for top-flight clubs - to make the “right response” to Wasps' walk-out.
He said: “We feel that the fans of both clubs have been badly let down, and it is clear to me that from the reaction to my announcement, that all fans wanted and expected the game to go ahead.
“They were as shocked and surprised as me that this game did not happen. There has been no reasonable explanation provided by Wasps for their decision not to play.
“We will have to see what action PRL (Premier Rugby Ltd) now take, but we are very clear what the right response should be to this.”
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Nick Stone, Macclesfield (28/11/2009 at 14:53)
Blue Monton, Salford (28/11/2009 at 17:24)
Pull up at Dave's (28/11/2009 at 17:34)
I cannot see how any professional game (or even top class amateur game) can allow a situation to develop in which a team can leave it so late before deciding they do not wish to play. Had BOTH teams stated the game should not go ahead then fair enough.
Wasps apparently have form in this regard. Should the RFU allow this to go unpunished then a precident has been set and the fixture schedule then becomes negotiable. In my view the points should be awarded to Sale, points deducted from Wasps (say 40-50) an enormous financial penalty levied and a straight warning of relegation to Division 3 should this EVER happen again.
Knowing the RFU I doubt if anything like this will happen (fashionable team).
However on the bright side the mugs - sorry fans - who turned up will have seen as many tries as if the game had taken place and rather than being forced to watch the 'game' (kick it to the opposition, now kick it back, now kick it back from where it came from etc.) they would have found the bus ride home a far more enjoyable experience.
metalmanc1980, stockport (28/11/2009 at 17:49)
Pull up at Dave's (29/11/2009 at 11:38)
As far as I am concerned this compounds the offence. Of course the RFU or whatever/whoever runs the game will do NOTHING!
Phil Taylor (29/11/2009 at 20:44)
No thought for anyone else apart from themselves.
gillykins, urmston (29/11/2009 at 22:59)
Tommy Twotoes (30/11/2009 at 09:32)