Waldrom signs with Wellington
Crowd favourite Thomas Waldrom is returning to play for the Wellington Lions in this year’s national rugby championship.
Big loose forward Waldrom will wrap up his successful stint in England by signing off with the champion Exeter Chiefs before returning to the New Zealand scene.
Wellington Lions coach Chris Gibbes felt Waldrom’s experience would be invaluable for the squad as they prepare to return to the Mitre 10 Cup Premiership.
‘‘Signing Thomas will provide us with not only what he brings on the field but his experience off it as a seasoned professional and that’s exactly what he is. That was part of the attraction of bringing a guy like Thomas into our programme,’’ Gibbes said.
Waldrom, 34, made 80 appearances for the Wellington Lions before his move to Britain where he was a big part of the Leicester Tigers’ success for four seasons. He was also capped four times for England and has spent the past four seasons playing for the Exeter Chiefs.
Gibbes said Waldrom, known as ‘‘Thomas the Tank Engine’’, had proven his undoubted skills overseas and was now ready to help the Lions.
‘‘He wants to come home and play for Wellington and put something back to a place where he started. His form and his game is still there and we are excited to have a guy like that coming back into our programme,’’ Gibbes said.
Waldrom felt the timing was right and he was eager to get his young family – he has two sons – settled into a Kiwi lifestyle.
‘‘I will hold Exeter as a special place in my heart. I have had a great time here, all the coaches and players are great. I can’t express how hard it was to leave but family had to come first,’’ Waldrom said.
‘‘Coming back to where it all started for me is going to be special and a challenge, one that I’m looking forward to. I will be able to pass on a lot of the experience I have built up while I have been away to the young lads.’’