Rugby Dai signs on dotted line to put an end to Wales job rumours

WASPS have announced that director of rugby Dai Young has signed a long-term extension to his contract.

Young joined the club from Cardiff Blues ahead of the 2011/12 season, and has since overseen a period of a dramatic upturn in fortunes, taking the club from 11th to Premiership finalists in just five years.

He has been heavily linked with a move to become the Wales national coach after the World Cup but has chosen instead to stay at the Ricoh Arena.

“I have really enjoyed my time at Wasps and am excited to be staying at the club,” Young said, “a number of players have shown tremendous loyalty to me and to the club and I am pleased to return the faith they have shown in us.

“The challenges we faced when I took over six years ago have been well documented, and it is thanks to the commitment shown by staff, players as well as the vision and support from Derek Richardson, that we have made such a success of our move to the Ricoh.

“After our move to Coventry, it feels like we have started again and taken on a fresh, really exciting challenge.

“I am grateful to the many Wasps’ supporters who followed us and to the local community who welcomed us so well.”

Despite the lure of his nation’s top job, Young insisted that he sees his long-term future in Coventry.

“As a proud Welshman, I am obviously humbled by being talked about as a possible future national coach,” he added.

“However, here at Wasps, we have made really good progress over the past few years and there is still so much to come.

“I am excited by the potential this squad has and I want to be here to help them fulfil it. We were only seconds away from lifting the trophy last season.

“I want to play my part in going that final step and taking this squad as far as I know it can. Our fans and everyone at the club deserve success and I want to be here to help us achieve it.” Chief executive Nick Eastwood was delighted that Young has committed his future to the club. “This is a massively important announcement regarding the long-term future of the club. Dai is one of world rugby’s most respected figures and I am delighted that he will be staying with us,” he said. “Dai is at the centre of everything that is happening at Wasps, he is integral to Wasps’ current performance level and future development.

“You never get anything less than 100 per cent commitment and honesty from him, and he holds a tremendous amount of respect among the players, backroom staff and fans.

“We have improved each season since he took over. He has been an absolute rock for us, and with the club now in a strong position, I believe we will see the squad he has built continue to flourish in the coming years.” WASPS winger Marcus Watson has said he is aiming to grasp his opportunity with both hands as the black-and-golds head into a crucial period of their season.

Watson has struggled with injury so far this campaign, with Christian Wade and Josh Bassett cementing themselves in Dai Young’s starting fifteen.

But Bassett will be sidelined for between six and eight weeks with a high-grade hamstring injury, giving Watson a clear run in the side.

And the 26-year-old is keen to kick on after claiming a brace against Bath last Friday and show fans the talent that helped him win a silver medal at the 2016 Olympics.

“It’s been a very frustrating season for me, being in and out with injuries and stuff so hopefully I can get some run of games and some form back,” he said. “With Bass out, a run of games is important to build some momentum for me.

“At the start of the season I played a couple of games and then got injured and some of the wingers, in particular Bass, has been playing very well so my opportunity is there and I need to take it with both hands.”

Watson moved to the Ricoh Arena from Newcastle Falcons in the summer and he said he is thriving at his new club.

“The reasons I moved here was one – to be closer to family – and two wanting to be the Champions Cup and push for that,” he added.

“The big difference that I’ve noticed is there’s quality players in the Newcastle squad, no doubt about it, but some of the players we’ve got at Wasps are unbelievable.

“One of my friends from back home was talking about it almost like a Real Madrid side. We’ve got some very good leaders, in guys like Joe Launchbury and Ashley Johnson. They drive the whole thing and everyone responds to it so the mentality is definitely good at the club.”

Watson is set to start when Wasps host secondplaced Saracens at the Ricoh on Sunday and the winger knows how important the next month is.

“No doubt about it, the next four weeks are huge for our season,” Watson said, “luckily for us we’re coming into it in good form. But that means nothing when it comes to Sunday.

“It should be a huge game, we’ve played pretty well in the last couple of games, so we’re heading into it with pretty good momentum. So it’s a big game.

“Exeter are in control of the table at the minute but we can only control our performances. They’re ten points clear but if we win games, their lead is not going to be extended.

“There’s not been too much talk about catching up to Exeter. Our main focus, and I know it’s very cliche, but it is just winning games.”

I want to play my part in taking this squad as far as I know it can. Our fans deserve success and I want to be here to help us achieve it.