Wednesday's Contract Extension is ...

[Neils]

... coming soon according to Offy.

[Nigel Med]

Am I correct that the Welsh National qualification rule for non resident players is that they can't sign a new contract outside of Wales if they want to represent their country unless they are on 60+ caps? If so, is it at all relevant that all these contract extension announcements are described as just that and not new contracts? I'm thinking of course of Thomas Young, a contact extension leaves the door open to play for Wales which might make re-signing for us a more attractive proposition for him.

Or am I just being over optimistic???

[HDAWG]

Bloody hell. Now that is a shock. In my eyes that is him ruling out Wales.

[Neils]

Thomas Young. Chosen Wasps over Wales. Well done YY.

[Heathen]

Excellent news.

[Vespula Vulgaris]

Great player, nice bloke, and a big statement about the state of the club moving forward.

Really pleased by this.

[InBetweenWasp]

Am I correct that the Welsh National qualification rule for non resident players is that they can't sign a new contract outside of Wales if they want to represent their country unless they are on 60+ caps? If so, is it at all relevant that all these contract extension announcements are described as just that and not new contracts? I'm thinking of course of Thomas Young, a contact extension leaves the door open to play for Wales which might make re-signing for us a more attractive proposition for him.

Or am I just being over optimistic???

I think you're right.  There was another recent Prem example - It might have been Rees-Zammit.  So in theory, as long as your contract doesn't expire (and therefore you have to re-sign), you're eligible for Wales.  I don't know if they scrutinise the terms to determine whether it's a whole new contract essentially, or a genuine extension under the same terms.

Presumably though, he's faced with taking a pay-cut in a move to Wales and gamble on getting selected to increase earnings as I don't think he'll get a subsidised contract or stay with Wasps (even under the same terms) plus be eligible for Wales?

Seems a win-win.

[Raggs]

Huge decision on his part, but unless there was a generous offer on the table from a Welsh region, I think the right one. Wales has great openside stocks, and he's no longer a young player. No guarantees he could have a good international career now.

[matelot22]

I'm really chuffed by this, huge fan of his. We have some great back row talent at the moment, reminds me of the good old days.

[jamestaylor002]

Huge sigh of relief!

[Heathen]

So who is left to be announced?

Nemo, Ash, Lima, Charlie, Tibo, Brad, Jimmy.

Signs are that Ash and Lima will stay. Ideally I would like to see them all stay!!!

[WonkyWasp]

Very very happy indeed to hear this. Thank you YY and all the very best.

[InBetweenWasp]

I can't see Nemo going unless we choose not to renew which would be daft, I think. 

He took the move pretty seriously by all accounts to ensure there was a Muslim community nearby that him and his wife wanted to be part of, plus I'm sure they had their first child last year and then of course the Rand-to-GBP rate probably makes playing in the UK worthwhile.

I'd like to see Brad/Tibo stay.  I'm indifferent about Matthews.  I don't see the same performances that others have and see him as a pretty average squad player - I'd have Launch, Gaskell, Rowlands and Tibo all ahead of him.  That being said, he's by all accounts a lovely, sincere bloke so perhaps a good guy to have in your squad.

He never really excelled at Quins, even with their lack of Second Row depth for most of his time there.

Gut feel says that if Brad hasn't been announced as off already that he'll be staying.  Suspect he was probably close to a move to work with a Coach he knows of old but changes for us, coming back from injury and COVID probably all played a part in him staying.

[Neils]

So who is left to be announced?

Nemo, Ash, Lima, Charlie, Tibo, Brad, Jimmy.

Signs are that Ash and Lima will stay. Ideally I would like to see them all stay!!!

Lima's contract has another year option so might not get announced. Tibo has another year of his Academy contract to run (according to him).

The rest - we can but hope for good news.

[RBB]

According to The CET, only four undecided

Jimmy Gopperth
Ashley Johnson
Charlie Matthews
Nizaam Carr