Gaskell chosen to Ed up forward coaching

ANOTHER Wasps player will juggle his full-time playing duties with coaching at a local grassroots club.

Fresh from Dan Robson and Juan de Jongh’s appointments as coaches at Pinley and Rugby Lions respectively, second row James Gaskell will take the reins of guiding the forwards at Nuneaton Old Edwardians.

He will work alongside fellow Wasp Jimmy Gopperth, who has coached the Midlands Two West South club for the past three seasons.

Gaskell replaces Ashley Johnson in the role, after the South African’s eight-year stay at

Wasps came to an end this summer and he has since taken up a player/coach position at National League One outfit, Birmingham Moseley.

Under Gopperth and Johnson’s guidance, the Eds went agonisingly close to achieving promotion. Following the cancellation of the season due to coronavirus in March, the weighted points system applied by the RFU saw them finish third. Prior to Johnson’s arrival, former Wasps scrum-half Craig Hampson worked alongside Gopperth for two seasons.

Nuneaton Old Edwardians playing manager John Burdett said: “Everyone involved at the Eds is delighted at the way the club has been transformed in the last three seasons under Jimmy’s coaching. We have

James Gaskell is set for a new challenge at Nuneaton Old Edwardians every hope this improvement will continue next season.”

Gaskell has made 112 appearances for Waspssince joining from Sale Sharks in 2014. He represented England at Under18 and 20 levels and also captained England Saxons.

The 6ft 7in tall lock is respected as one of the best lineout operators in the Gallagher Premiership but injuries have hampered his 2019/20 season, limiting him to just four appearances so far. Gaskell, Gopperth, Robson and Johnson are not alone in juggling their full-time playing duties at Wasps with coaching at grassroots level.

Forwards Tom Cruse and Ben Harris work with level eight club Old Leamingtonians, Jacob Umaga coaches both Coventry University’s women’s team and level nine men’s club, Aston Old Edwardians. Charlie Matthews and Billy Searle, who have both left the club recently, coached at Southam and Broadstreet, respectively.

Former Wasps lock Marcus Garratt, who was forced to retire on medical grounds last season aged 24, was named as level eight side Southam’s new head coach last week.

Two Premiership players from different clubs have tested positive for Covid-19 in the latest round of testing.

Almost 900 tests were carried out on Monday at all 12 Premiership clubs. Nine people tested positive for coronavirus last week, and 10 in the initial week’s testing on July 8.

The Premiership campaign will resume on August 14.

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