Wasps heroes fly off to restart careers
PLAYERS AND COACHES IN 10
A MONTH ago Wasps players, coaches and staff were delivered the bombshell they were out of a job.
When Wasps Holdings Limited went into administration, 167 employees were immediately made redundant.
But over the 30 days that have passed since that fateful day, many have found new clubs to restart their rugby careers.
Including confirmed moves and rumoured switches, the Coventry Telegraph understands the 2022/23 Wasps squad and coaches looks set to be spread over at least ten different countries.
Here’s a country-by-country guide as to where you will find those ex-wasps moving forward...
FRANCE
Flanker Brad Shields and fullback Ali Crossdale signed for Perpignan, while Paolo Odogwu and Vincent Koch joined Stade Francais. Prop Biyi Alo is already up and running at Racing 92 and scrum-half Dan Robson was recently revealed as a Pau player until the end of the season.
Second row Cameron Dodson was the last player to be signed by Wasps before their financial collapse, he secured a deal at Pro D2 side Stade Aurillacois.
The second tier of French rugby is also potentially the next landing spot for fly-half Will Haydonwood.
Flanker Jack Willis is currently unattached but is now expected to join Toulouse once England’s Autumn internationals are finished.
His young brother, number eight Tom Willis could arrive in France ahead of him at Bordeaux
Begles.
JAPAN
It seems increasingly likely that lock Joe Launchbury will spend the first half of 2023 away in Japan at Toyota Verblitz before returning to England with a move to the club that released him as a youngster, Harlequins.
He is likely to be joined in Japan by South African centre Burger Odendaal, who could team up with Northampton Saints ahead of the 2023/24 Premiership season.
IRELAND
Prop John Ryan swiftly returned to the club he left in the summer, Munster, where he was joined by lock Kiran Mcdonald as the Irish province moved to solve a second row shortage during the Autumn internationals.
ITALY
Italian full-back Matteo Minozzi and fly-half/ful-back Jacob Umaga have teamed up with United Rugby Championship side Benetton.
SOUTH AFRICA
Back row Nizaam Carr joined the Bulls for a third time after his third spell at Wasps came to an end. Hooker Michael van Vuuren is heading to the Emirates Lions
USA
Scrum-half Sam Wolstenholme is understood to be lining up a move to a Major League Rugby side.
SCOTLAND
Experienced hooker Tom Cruse could be set for a short-term spell at Edinburgh. He will be met by a familiar face in the form of former Wasps team manager, Dave Bassett, who is now the club’s Head of Rugby Operations.
WALES
Former Wasps head coach Lee Blackett, inset above, secured a role coaching the backs at Scarlets.
ENGLAND
Naturally, England is the most likely landing spot for the former Wasps players.
So let us start with the players who have confirmed their new clubs – ranging from National League One level all the way to the top of the Premiership: Charlie Atkinson (Leicester Tigers), Will Porter (Bristol Bears), Josh Bassett (Harlequins), Dan Frost (Exeter Chiefs), Robin Hislop (Saracens), Ryan Mills (Sale Sharks), Ben Morris (Birmingham Moseley), Will Simonds (Chinnor), Theo Vukasinovic
(Doncaster Knights) and Luke Mehson (London Scottish).
Beyond that, it seems increasingly likely that number eight Alfie Barbeary will be at Bath next season.
The number eight had been linked with a move to Bordeaux Begles but reports have emerged that Bath have lured the 22-yearold to The Rec.
The England hopeful is out until the new year after undergoing surgery on his problematic hamstring in September.
Prop Elliot Millar-mills is understood to be on trial at Harlequins, also believed to be in London seeking a new club is young centre Olly Hartley, with Saracens understood to be casting their eye over the former England Under-20 ace.
The academy trio of Alfie Bell, Greg Fisilau and Immanuel Feyiwaboso have all been snapped up by Exeter Chiefs and Archie Mcarthur has joined Gloucester. Rekeiti Ma’asi-white is reportedly heading to Sale Sharks, Eparama Rokodrava has signed for Ealing Trailfinders.
Attack coach Matt Everard secured an academy position at Leicester Tigers.
AUSTRALIA
Two Wasps academy graduates who became established firstteam players look set to re-emerge at clubs Down Under.
Centre Sam Spink’s destination appears to be Western Force while lock Tim Cardall is also set to confirm a switch to a different Australian outfit.
UNKNOWN
The future of the following senior players is unknown at this stage: Francois Hougaard, Zach Kibirige, Rodrigo Martinez, Zac Nearchou, Gabriel Oghre, Elliott Stooke, Tom West and Ben Harris.