The attempts by Saracens to rebrand themselves this week as “The Original Club of North London” extends poetic licence beyond the borders of credibility.

While Saracens were founded a few years before the round-ballers of Arsenal and Spurs, their foundation date of 1876 is almost a decade later than Wasps FC, in 1867 (in Hampstead/Primrose Hill), who were by some distance the more illustrious of the two north London clubs until Nigel Wray’s multi-millions started to transform Sarries’ fortunes 20 years ago.
The Wasps professional group’s recent rocky road to receivership has been well-docum...