CRUSE HOOKS NEW DEAL WITH WASPS

HOOKER Tom Cruse has become the ninth Wasps first-team player during this season to commit his future to the club ahead of the 2019/20 Gallagher Premiership campaign as he agreed an extension to his contract.

Cruse joined Wasps in 2016 from London Irish and soon established himself in the firstteam as well as a popular member amongst the squad.

The 29-year-old (right) has gone on to rack up 57 appearances in the Black and Gold to date, including nine tries, and was voted the Players’ Player of the Season in 2017/18. Cruse began his career with his local club Stockport where he won county honours with Cheshire prior to spells in the Sale Sharks Academy and with National Two North side Macclesfield.

This brought him to the attention of Wasps backs coach Lee Blackett, then at the helm of Championship outfit Rotherham Titans, where he enjoyed a prolific two-season spell.

Wasps director of rugby Dai Young said: “Cruser is a fantastic person and a top player. He always goes out and gives you a 110 per cent and he’s been a consistently reliable performer in the Black and Gold. He’s a very well-liked character within the dressing room and to have him sign on for his third contract at Wasps shows that this is a club he cares about and wants to be a key part of moving forward.” Cruse said: “Wasps have been great to me and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my first three seasons alongside some top blokes.

There are a lot of guys who are all signing on the dotted line and we all want to help take this Club to where it belongs at the top and locking horns with the very best in England and Europe.