Jacob’s cracker! Fly-half signs new deal with Wasps
PROMISING fly-half Jacob Umaga has capped his man-of-the-match performance against Agen by signing a new first-team deal at Wasps.
The 21-year-old kicked three conversions and two penalties in the Ricoh Arena European Challenge Cup game taking him to 72 points in his 13 senior appearances to date.
Director of rugby Dai Young pinpointed Umaga’s time spent playing for Auckland in New Zealand and for Yorkshire Carnegie in the Championship as helping to develop his game.
He said: “Jacob has gone from strength to strength in the past year, gaining some valuable experience in New Zealand and in the Championship before putting in some quality displays for us in the A League. “He’s worked really hard on his game and is now challenging both Lima (Sopoaga) and Billy (Searle) for the number ten jersey – and that competition across the squad is exactly what you want.
“He is still very young and has a lot of room for growth. We’re pleased he’s committed his future to the Club and hopefully we can help him realise his full potential over the coming years to become a top-end Premiership player.”
Umaga is the son of ex-Samoa international Mike and is the nephew of All Blacks legend Tana. He was recalled from his loan at Yorkshire Carnegie last term following a fly-half injury crisis that saw Jimmy Gopperth, Sopoaga and Searle all sidelined.
He was an unused substitute for a number of Premiership games but hit the ground running this term after
joining the senior Wasps squad from the Academy.
Umags scored a record breaking 61 points in the two-day Premiership 7s before scoring 25 points in Premiership Cup starts against Saracens, Northampton Saints and Sale Sharks and made two Gallagher Premiership substitute appearances followed against London Irish and Gloucester.
The biggest vote of confidence in him came against Agen when Young kept Gopperth and Sopoaga on the bench and entrusted his youngest of four fly-half options in the must-win pool three clash.
Umaga said: “I’m over the moon to sign a new deal. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time at Wasps so far, coming through the Academy and into the firstteam while making a lot of good friends.
“It’s been great to learn from experienced players like Lima and Jimmy (Gopperth) and being able to tap into their knowledge has been hugely beneficial for me.
“It’s awesome that a number of the guys who I’ve been close with in the Academy have graduated into the first-team too, as we’re a tight group, and hopefully we can all drive standards and continue playing together at the club for a long time to come.”