Wasps' Summer of Signings

Ulster-bound Charles Piutau, his brother Siale and Australian veteran George Smith were often the catalysts for success during Wasps’ successful first full campaign at their new home of the Ricoh Arena. Their efforts led to the club achieving their first league play-off finish, coupled with their first European semi-final, since the illustrious 2007/08 season which led to Wasps being crowned European champions. Their subsequent departures, alongside the migration of squad players Alex Lozowski, Ruiaridh Jackson, Bradley Davies, Carlo Festuccia and the retirement of club-stalwarts such as Andreas Masi, led to doubts over Wasps being able to sustain their newly restored position in the upper echelons of English rugby. Wasps’ Director of Rugby, Dai Young, and his accompanying recruitment team were left with vast holes in the club’s senior squad that needed quality replacements ahead of the 2016/17 season and, with 13 new signings, they did not disappoint. Here I will profile who I believe to be Wasp’s five biggest signings of their summer. #1 - Danny Cipriani The 28-year-old mercurial fly-half, capped 14 times by England, needs little introduction. Once the rightful heir to Jonny Wilkinson’s rose-governed throne and the prodigal son of English rugby Danny has had his fair share of off-field misdemeanours that have stalled his career. However, there is no doubting his quality on the pitch. Leaving Sale Sharks, rejecting a lucrative offer from French-galacticos Toulon that would’ve spelt the end his international career, to return to his boyhood club was a big decision in the career of the fly-half. Cipriani will be hoping that being the playmaker of a Wasps’ team in the upper-tier of European rugby will further his chances of escaping his current international wilderness while Wasps’ fans will be hoping that his effervescent style will be enough to unleash current higher-flyers such as Christian Wade and Elliot Daly. Whatever your opinions on Cipriani’s personal life there is little debate that he is an outstanding recruit who will no doubt aid Wasps in their aim to become a European-powerhouse once more.

#2 – Kurtley Beale

27-year-old Kurtley Beale not only possesses 60 senior Australian caps but also an ability to create opportunities out of nothing. Whether it is at fly-half, inside-centre, wing or full-back armoured with his trademark chip-and-chase the versatile Kurtley Beale is well equipped to set the Ricoh Arena alight this season. Kurtley was last seen in England during the 2015 Rugby World Cup in which he was an ever-present member of the Australian team that reached the tournament’s final. He is expected to be deployed predominately at inside-centre where he will link up with former Melbourne Rebels team mate Danny Cipriani – Wasps’ fans will be hoping that they can rekindle their former chemistry and reproduce the magic they were capable of in Super Rugby. As a marquee signing on a £500,000 contract Beale will be expected to deliver results on the pitch as soon as he returns from his patella-tendon injury in November and, as many of England’s RWC 2015 squad members playing in the Premiership will remember from that fateful night in September, he is capable of doing exactly that.

#3 – Kyle Eastmond

With the departure of George Smith to Japanese side Suntory Sungoliath Wasps were searching for the perfect world-class replacement flanker. Their well-documented pursuits of David Pocock and Steffon Armitage left them empty-handed and, with the new-found space in their salary cap, it became apparent that Kyle Eastmond was on the market. This left Dai Young with the decision whether to continue the search for a clearly unavailable suitable back-row replacement or to switch their attention to the 27 year old England-capped centre. While perhaps not their original target it is difficult to imagine any Premiership side turning down the chance to sign such an exciting talent. Eastmond’s ability has already been seen on the international stage on the tour to New Zealand in 2014 and throughout Bath’s glorious 2013/14 campaign. This is a player capable of winning Wasps points all on his own.

#4 – Tommy Taylor

The loss of Carlo Festuccia left Wasps yearning for an international-quality hooker and, at just 24-years-old with a place in Eddie Jones’ England Squad, Tommy Taylor is exactly that. His youthful exuberance in terms of work around the park and his expertise in set-pieces will lay a strong foundation for Wasps’ exciting back-line to work off. Taylor is also an excellent signing in terms of furthering Wasps’ reputation as a place to harbour young English talent – especially in the midst of their incoming foreign recruits. Expect strong performances from Tommy Taylor to lead to him battling it out with Saracen’s Jamie George as Dylan Hartley’s understudy in the England squad. He is a player capable of moving up a level – watch this space.

#5 – Willie Le Roux

Following the theme of Wasp’s recruitment this summer Willie Le Roux is yet another Houdini player – he is capable creating something out of nothing. The versatile back is likely to be deployed at full-back primarily with his ability to play wing and fly-half providing injury cover for Dai Young’s team. Le Roux, capped 37 times by South Africa, will join Wasps at the end of the Japanese Top League season after his stint with the Canon Eagles. Wasps fans will be hoping that his arrival in late January will be enough to push the club towards a top-four finish and to achieve silverware in the later stages of European rugby.

These five players, alongside Marty Moore, Nick De Luca, Tom Cruse, Matt Symons, Guy Armitage, Marcus Garratt and Craig Hampson leave Wasps in an excellent position to further their return to domestic and European success.

#Wasps #Cipriani #Beale #Eastmond #LeRoux #Taylor #Aviva