London Wasps
Club Details
Adams Park
Hillbottom Road
Sands
High Wycombe
Buckinghamshire
HP12 4HJ
Stadium Capacity: 10,000
Website: www.wasps.co.uk
Founded: 1867
- 2009/10 Season Preview-
Last year: A comparatively inglorious year for one of England's most successful clubs of the professional era. The team struggled to cope without the paternal presence of Lawrence Dallaglio and coach Ian McGeechan appeared at times to be struggling to balance commitments with the Lions and club - it later emerged that the Lions had been paying his coaching salary as a part of the deal. A finish outside the top six meant no Heineken Cup and in Europe the team struggled as well, going down 41-11 in Dublin to Leinster before a last-day defeat in Castres cost them any quarter-final hopes.
This year: Wasps are a quantity difficult to measure before the season starts this time. The team looks to be slightly in transition but have made a number of signings who could, if gelled properly, propel the team well up the table. David Lemi and Tom Varndell are quite a pair of wings to have waiting for the ball and with scoring far more of a problem than defending last season, maybe that kind of skill and pace could be just the tonic Wasps need.
Coach: Tony Hanks came from Waikato to Wasps, following in the footsteps of current Wales coach Warren Gatland. He comes with plenty of pedigree, as does able assistant Sean Edwards, who will be losing sleep over the recent lack of conquests to feed his insatiable competitive appetite. Fewer people know that Hanks was already present at Wasps for much of last season as cover for McGeechan, so he has a good working knowledge of the team members.
Captain: Tom Rees is developing into an inspirational player and but for injury last season would have surely toured with the Lions. While so many of Wasps' vaunted new generation have moved on - most notably James Haskell and Tom Palmer - Rees has stayed loyal and, if the rumours are to be believed, fitter than ever as he seeks his place on the open side for the season ahead.
One to watch: It's obvious, but not for the same reasons it used to be obvious for. Danny Cipriani was an England starter at last season's onset. By the end he was scraping into the Saxons' squad. Injury, off-field distractions (wouldn't your game suffer with Kelly Brook to go home to?) and a few silly moments with the paparazzi have left Cipriani in Martin Johnson's bad books. But he has the potential, and now is not constrained by that pin in his ankle. A liberation for his talent? We'll see...
In: Ben Broster (Saracens), Warren Fury (scrum-half, London Irish), Jason Hobson (Bristol), Ben Jacobs (centre, Saracens), Steve Kefu (centre, Castres), David Lemi (wing, Bristol), Joe Simpson (scrum-half, Academy), Lee Smith (utility back, Leeds Rhinos), Tom Varndell (wing, Leicester), Marty Veale (lock, Northland), Dan Ward-Smith (number eight, Bristol).
Out: Pat Barnard (Brive), Riki Flutey (centre, Brive), James Haskell (flanker, Stade Francais), Rob Hoadley (centre, coaching), Michael Holford (London Welsh), Raphael Ibanez (hooker, retired), Mossy Lawler (wing, released), Josh Lewsey (wing, retired), Tom Palmer (lock, Stade Francais), Eoin Reddan (scrum-half, Leinster), Jeremy Staunton (fly-half, Leicester), Damien Varley (hooker, Munster), Tom Voyce (wing, Gloucester).
Squad: Charlie Beech, Serge Betsen, Richard Birkett, Gabriel Bocca, Ben Broster, Danny Cipriani, Hugo Ellis, Tom French, Warren Fury, John Hart, Eoghan Hickey, Jason Hobson, James Honeyben, Ben Jacobs, Steve Kefu, David Lemi, Daniel leo, Lachlan Mitchell, Tim Payne, Tom Rees, Mark Robinson, Paul Sackey, Simon Shaw, Joe Simpson, George Skivington, Lee Smith, Mark Van Gisbergen, Tom Varndell, Marty Veale, Phil Vickery, Dave Walder, Dominic Waldouck, Joe Ward, Dan Ward-Smith, Rob Webber, Joe Worsley.