Now Wasps face losing star full-back Le Roux
WASPS could lose their second marquee signing in as many seasons with Willie Le Roux under pressure to return to South Africa.
The Springbok full- back joined Wasps in February 2017 from Japanese side Canon Eagles as a replacement for Kiwi fullback Charles Piutau.
But, like Kurtley Beale, he is coming under pressure to return to his home land ahead of the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
Le Roux, 28, who has won 41 caps for the Springboks was nominated for world player of the year in 2014.
This year, however, Allister Coetzee has picked mainly home based players for his squads, placing Le Roux in danger of missing the World Cup in Japan.
He is therefore coming under pressure to return to South Africa and join a Super Rugby franchise at the end of the Premiership season.
If Wasps cannot persuade him to stay at the club it will be a massive blow to last season’s Premiership finalists.
Dai Young has a host of big name players out of contract at the end of the season and had been hoping to keep his recruitment to a minimum. Fly-half Danny Cipriani, scrum-half Joe Simpson, centre Kyle Eastmond and flanker James Haskell are all in the final year of their deals.
Good news for the club, however, is that Toulon tight head Marcel van der Merwe will head to the club for the start of next season.
The 26-year-old, who has won seven Springbok caps, sees his two-year deal with the former European champions run out next summer.
Van der Merwe who has played Super Rugby for the Bulls and Cheetahs has also been capped by his country at U20 and A level.