Wales snub drives Young’s need for speed
DETERMINED Wasps back rower Thomas Young has vowed to keep working on his pace and power as he seeks a route back into the Wales reckoning.
Young achieved his dream of being capped during last summer’s tour matches against Tonga and Samoa but has received little encouragement from Wales coaches Warren Gatland and Robin McBryde since being ignored for the autumn Tests.
Instead the 25-year-old has got on with the business of self-improvement and his explosiveness around the field has been
markedly enhanced this season, with 26 tackles in last week’s clash with Exeter proof of his value to Wasps.
Young, right, told The Rugby Paper: “We get on the sprinting track with the conditioners at the start of each week – I enjoy it and it seems to be having a really positive effect on my game.
“All our back rowers do sprinting with the backs – I’m quick, Guy Thompson and Jack Willis are quick and it’s having a big impact on the team. We have a lot of ball-carriers and with the way we play being quite open, it certainly helps to have that pace.”
Young is also benefitting from the impact of England prospect Willis, who, at 21, has made 18 appearances this season and last week signed a new contract.
“Jack’s a good kid who works hard and is always willing to learn. He’s taken his chances to show how good he is and he’s definitely one to watch,” Young said. “It’s nice to play with him because, with him doing the donkey work, it frees me up a bit and as a back row unit we’re pretty tight. “Teams try to slow us down but we’re a pretty dynamic forward pack and we’re trying to ensure that doesn’t happen.” As for a Wales recall, Young has no intention of changing his allaction style as he focuses on powering Wasps to their first Premiership title in a decade.
He said: “I’ve not had much feedback from the Welsh coaches; I’ve just got to concentrate on Wasps and I’ll keep doing what I’m doing because the style of play here suits me down to the ground.
“You want to represent your country and I know I can improve, so I’m determined to do that. I’ll keep working hard and hopefully there’s a lot more to come in future.”