It seems so far away, yet the new season is slowly creeping up on us. More excitingly, new signings are being announced all over the country and it’s looking to be one of the most exhilarating seasons in years in the battle for victory. For those itching for the Premiership to start, it might be good to get to know your club’s new faces a little better.
Dropping the ‘London’ from their name, Wasps are hoping to improve on the past few seasons where they have continuously finished mid-table. Dai Young has already expressed his ambitions to make the top six and go on to make their mark on rugby in Europe, but firstly acknowledges the importance of integrating the new players within a unified Wasps side. Here are all the important Wasps signings from this summer.
Bradley Davies
Age: 27
Height: 6’6”
Weight: 18st 1lb
Position: Lock
Progressing through the age groups for his country, the lock currently holds 42 caps for Wales has also spent the last nine years at Cardiff Blues, where he made his debut in 2006. Dai Young has already hailed Davies as a “proven leader” after his great display of captaincy during Wales’ 2013 tour of Japan.
James Gaskell
Age: 24
Height: 6’7”
Weight: 16st 0lbs
Position: Lock
At only 20 years old, Gaskell became the youngest man ever to captain a club side in the Premiership’s history, leading him to then captain England Saxons twice in 2011. He won Sale’s Breakthrough Player of the Year, try of the season and Player’s Player all in the 2009/10 season, and has achieved 55 points and 97 caps since his career began there. It is safe to say that he has more accolades and experience than other players his age at this level, and will definitely continue his successes at Wasps and for England.
John Yapp
Age: 31
Height: 6’2”
Weight: 19st 0lbs
Position: Prop
Yapp has 21 international caps and featured in Wales’ Six Nations championship side of 2005. Officially on the books of Edinburgh Rugby, he has spent a season on loan at London Irish, for whom he made 24 appearances, and his move to Wasps will intensify the competition within the props.
Rob Miller
Age: 24
Height: 5’1”
Weight: 14st 1lbs
Position: Fullback
Alongside Gaskell, the fullback (who can also play fly half) moves from Sale with 86 caps under his belt after four years at the club. Miller came through the England age groups, appearing 13 times for the Under-20’s squad, and gained more noteworthy experience when he came on as a replacement during the England v Barbarians match in June 2014.
Alex Lozowski
Age: 20
Position: Fly Half
As a somewhat off-the-radar young player, Lozowski spent a lot of his childhood with the Chelsea Football Club youth side, before switching to rugby and joining the Wasps academy. He later joined Leeds Carnegie and has since earned game time for England Students whilst attending university. His return to Wasps will allow him to develop his talent further whilst providing more versatility amongst the club’s backs.
Lorenzo Cittadini
Age: 31
Height: 6’3”
Weight: 19st 0lbs
Position: Prop
Joining team-mates Masi and Festuccia from the Italian national side, Cittadini moves to England from Benetton Treviso after 81 appearances. The tighthead prop represented Italy twice in the 2011 World Cup after making his international debut in 2008. He is a reliable, steadfast forward and is a safe signing for Wasps.
Ruaridh Jackson
Age: 26
Height: 6’0”
Weight: 13st 7lbs
Position: Fly Half
Jackson has played 112 times for Glasgow Warriors in the past six years, accumulating more than 400 points. The quick footed fly half played for the Scotland sevens side, his debut in the 2006 Dubai World Series, and then progressed onto his country’s senior side for the first time in 2010 against the All Blacks.
Alapati Leiua
Age: 25
Height: 6’1”
Weight: 15st 6lbs
Position: Wing
Able to play on the wing and at centre, the Samoan powerhouse qualified to represent New Zealand but chose to play for Samoa to be with his brother (Ofisa Treviranus) and made his test debut in 2013 against Scotland. Leiua has played for Hurricanes in Super Rugby since 2010, boasting 45 points in 49 appearances. The stand-out back will be sure to make an impact on the Premiership.
Ed Shervington
Age: 29
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 16st 10lbs
Position: Hooker
The Welsh forward joined Worcester Warriors in 2010 and has since played 90 times for the club. Previously, he had come through the Ospreys and Wales development teams simultaneously, representing his country up to Under-21’s level. Dai Young said
“Ed Shervington has impressed me with his physical displays for Worcester and I am very confident that he will be a very good addition to our squad moving forward.”
Buster Lawrence
Age: 22
Height: 6’3”
Weight: 15st 7lbs
Position: Back Row
As a good ball carrier and superb tackler, Lawrence can play second row if necessary but has been signed to join a strong contingent of back row’s in the Wasps squad. The former Moseley player has produced many Man of the Match performances, and will undoubtedly cherish the chance to play at this level of rugby.
Thomas Young
Age: 22
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 15st 1lb
Position: Back Row
Dai Young’s son made his senior debut for Cardiff Blues in the LV= Cup in 2010, and made six further appearances before being released early from his contract in January 2014. He signed a short-term contract with Gloucester before signing for his father’s side for next season. Advancing through Wales Under-16’s, 18’s and 20’s teams, Young’s international experience led him to the 2011 Junior World Championship in Italy.
Will Rowlands
Age: 22
Height: 6’7”
Weight: 18st 0lbs
Position: Second Row
A Wasps academy product, Rowlands has decided to stay in black and gold and signed a senior contract. He was part of Oxford University’s rugby team whilst studying there, and played in the 2012 Varsity match against Cambridge, in which Oxford won. Acclaimed as a workhorse amongst the pack, he is certain to continue a successful career at Wasps in general, not just as a second row.
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