Young to fight on after woe with Wales

THOMAS Young has opened up about the disappointment of his Wales exclusion as he looks to fight to win back his place in Warren Gatland’s national squad, writes Rob Lloyd.

The Wasps flanker was nominated for European player of the year in 2016-17 after an outstanding campaign for the Premiership big-hitters.

However, with Gatland blessed with a glut of back-row options, Young was left out in the cold last season, unable to build on his two lone caps on the summer tour of 2017.

“I can’t concentrate on that stuff,” said Young, in an interview with Sky Sports.

“Everybody wants to play for Wales. Everybody wants to play for their country.

“I just have to make sure I’m playing for Wasps.

“With the squad and the backrow players we have here, if I change my focus from one thing to the other, I won’t be in the Wasps team.

“It is disappointing not to be involved. Of course it is. Selection is out of your hands, you just can’t control it. Every coach has their own opinion.

“Whatever happens from that happens.”

Young also admitted his father Dai, the Wasps director of rugby and former Wales and Lions prop, threw him a rugby lifeline when he signed him from Gloucester in 2014, after he had struggled to make an impact with his home side Cardiff Blues and then, in a short-term spell at Kingsholm.

“In fairness to him, he saved my career,” added the 26-year-old.

“He offered me a contract when things weren’t going well back home, they were going backwards.

“He backed me but it was then down to me to prove what I could do to everyone else and hopefully I’ve done that and can make a name for myself now.”

Young added: “Every time I play for Wasps, I know I’ve got to pay back the faith he showed in signing me in the first place.

“He took a gamble on me, thought there was an opportunity here, saved my career and thankfully it’s worked out.”

As for his future, Young is contracted with Wasps until 2020, but then has a decision to make.

If he opts to stay in England, he will be captured by Welsh rugby’s new 60-cap senior player selection policy and will be ineligible to play for his country.

“As it stands now, I’m really happy at Wasps. I’m just focused on them,” he added.

“I haven’t really thought about the selection policy and 2020 because you can’t get distracted by other things. Circumstances do change but I have to focus at Wasps.”