WASPS' place in Europe next season is more or less assured whoever is running professional club rugby by then and they are poised today to enter the European transfer market at the same time as announcing their intention to float on the stock market. Two signings are expected.

Olivier Roumat, the French lock, has been the London club's target for much of the season though Simon Shaw, the England A lock who has missed nearly all of Bristol's season through injury, is another among the unverifiable myriad who have been and are being linked with Wasps.

Either way, it would be a significant addition to Wasps' playing portfolio; a second-row combination of Roumat and Glyn Llewellyn, already signed from

Neath, would address the ball-winning problem that has contributed most to keeping them down in fourth position in the English league this season.

Roumat (29), who has 59 caps, had the opportunity to return to South Africa, where he spent the latter part of the last southern hemisphere season with his compatriot Thierry Lacroix helping Natal to the Currie Cup. Lacroix has already abandoned his international career and signed a three-year contract with Natal.

Wasps' stock-market move would be their way to secure their financial future now that they are 11 days away from having to pay their players.

Meanwhile, Bath captain Phil de Glanville has warned club-mates Mike Catt and Ben Clarke that they risk their England futures if they accept lucrative offers to move to League Two Richmond.

Clarke is reported to be considering a playing organising job at

Richmond worth well over £100,000, while Catt is debating something near that sum.