Wasps are Myles better as Young signs new deal
WASPS have made their second signing ahead of next season with the acquisition of powerhouse lock Myles Edwards from French club Oyonnax.
The 23-year-old’s impending arrival from Pro D2 Oyonnax is likely to fill the gap being left by an outgoing lock with both Charlie Matthews and Thibaud Flament out of contract at the end of the season and linked with moves to France.
Wasps also have senior options in the second row with captain Joe Launchbury, James Gaskell and Will Rowlands while Tim Cardall was promoted from the Academy last summer and Theo Vukasinovic was signed from London Scottish last summer.
Wasps’ new signing is originally from Birmingham and was part of the Worcester Warriors Academy before moving to France – where he has spent the last four seasons.
Firstly he was with La Rochelle before switching to Aurillac and the second tier before making the switch to Oyonnax last summer.
Prior to the coronavirus pandemic, the club that is located in the Jura Mountains in the East of France sat fourth in the table, 10 points behind leaders Colomiers, before the season was officially cancelled on May 6.
Edwards, who is from Handsworth, said: “The chance to play for such a prestigious club as Wasps is one I couldn’t turn down.”
He becomes the second new signing to be announced ahead of the 2020/21 season following the acquisition of centre Ryan Mills from Premiership
rivals Worcester Warriors.
He is the first signing made since the confirmation of Lee Blackett as head coach on April 9.
“Myles is a hungry young athlete with a huge amount of potential,” said Blackett.
Thomas Young has re-signed for Wasps in a move that will rule him out of contention for international selection.
The 28-year-old flanker joined from Premiership rivals Gloucester in 2014 and has gone on to make 111 appearances – all of which were under the management of his dad Dai, whose nine-season stay as director of rugby ended in February.
Due to Wales’ selection policy changing after he signed his previous deal with Wasps, Young junior was considered for international selection despite not being based at one of the four Welsh regions.
But his new deal will exclude him from future call-ups and add to his three caps, the most recent of which came in the 2019 Six Nations.
Blackett said: “Thomas is a hugely influential member of the squad on and off the field.
“He captained the side on several occasions last year and has developed into a real leader.
“Thomas is one of a number of players who’ve been here all the time I have, and it’s been great to see him develop from being our second choice 7 behind George Smith to today, in our opinion, being one of the best opensides in the league.”
Young follows Marcus Watson, Tom West, Biyi Alo, Rob Miller and Sam Wolstenhome in signing new Wasps deals.
The chance to play for such a prestigious club as Wasps is one I couldn’t turn down.
Myles Edwards