Wasps' director of rugby Tony Hanks has defended his club's decision not to play against Sale Sharks at Edgeley Park on Friday evening.

Hanks felt that the waterlogged surface would have been dangerous, despite the home side and the match referee of the opinion that the pitch was playable.

Hanks said: "We didn't think the pitch was fit to play and we didn't believe, especially when it comes to scrummaging, that the surface was safe.

"We had a meeting with the referee and (Sale director of rugby) Kingsley Jones and at about 7.09pm we made the decision not to play the game.

"Nobody informed us that the pitch was in such a bad state. I'm gutted for the fans and we're all disappointed, but I'm not going to risk the safety of the players.

"We got advice from the referee and as far as we are concerned we have gone down the right channels."

Referee David Rose admitted that he had no say in the final decision, adding: "The situation is that Wasps didn't want to play the game because they felt the pitch was unsafe.

"At that point my opinion doesn't count for anything - I cannot make any team take the field to play."