WASPS say they won’t give up on a place in the knockout stages of the Champions Cup, but admit two defeats in two means they are really up against it.

Harlequins and Leinster have both won two games already, and if Wasps fail to beat Castres home and away in December then their chances of making it out of the pool look forlorn.

Director of rugby Dai Young said: “History will tell you that if you lose the first two games. It’s certainly an uphill task.

“But it’s not totally beyond us. We can go to Quins and win, we know that. These are tight games between us. We’ve also got two games against Castres.

“But it’s certainly out of our hands. We’ll certainly continue fighting in this competition. We won’t give up the ghost but we’re up against it really.”