Daily Mail: Wasps set to sign South African scrum half Francois Hougaard

[Steve from Cov]

Houggard is the experienced Dan Robson cover we thought Velacott was going to be.

Don’t write off Porter and Wolstenholme as they are both developing into very decent scrum halves.

[Raggs]

2 year contract, with one of Wusty or Porter to look elsewhere would be my guess, but with Wasps trying to keep hold of them both for another 2 years.

EDIT - Though if we're liking the look of a scrumhalf in the academy, maybe not.

[MarleyWasp]

Porter and Wolstenholme signed "long term" contracts last summer.

[Raggs]

Porter and Wolstenholme signed "long term" contracts last summer.

If we get hougaard for 2 seasons then, and they're signed up for 3+, we've got a good chance of keeping them I reckon.

[RBB]

If it happens, it would be a great signing. I seem to remember him chasing back and dislodging the ball from Brad Shields who was looking nailed on for a try last season, or perhaps the season before. He wouldn't have to relocate either so this seems like a winner for all concerned.

[Peej]

Mixed feelings on this one. I think he is past his best, but he has basically single handedly kept Worcester from being relegated. Perhaps a move can revitalise him a bit?

And what happens if Dobby doesn't make the next EPS? He's hardly set the world alight, and we already know how much Jones rates other scrum halves. We could suddenly be spending a big wedge on a single position.

[JonnyD]

Would be a great signing, definitely past  his best but fills the void between Dobby and the rest well.
I do not think this will be a massive problem For Porter or Wusty though as there’ll be far more rugby to play next year across cups and A league so we will need 4 SHs, even more so if Dobby is still on Eddie’s good list.
Also, as has been shown with Vellacott, long term injuries can happen at any stage so there will always be chances for game time at 9, even with 4 in the position. Hougaard has been injured a fair bit too I think recently

[Shugs]

Mixed feelings on this one. I think he is past his best, but he has basically single handedly kept Worcester from being relegated. Perhaps a move can revitalise him a bit?

And what happens if Dobby doesn't make the next EPS? He's hardly set the world alight, and we already know how much Jones rates other scrum halves. We could suddenly be spending a big wedge on a single position.

It's basically Vellacott out, Hougaard in. I don't think the cost differential would be significant.

[MarleyWasp]

Mixed feelings on this one. I think he is past his best, but he has basically single handedly kept Worcester from being relegated. Perhaps a move can revitalise him a bit?

I do wonder whether he is past his best or whether he's had to change his style to fit Worcester's game plan.

[Chunky24]

We tried signing potential in Vellacott which didn't work out unfortunately, we now have that potential in Porter / Wusty so having seen the key need for another 9 going experience makes sense, much like Gloucester did in a similar situation with Joe Simpson who might have been considered past his best / injury prone but a change rejuvenated him.

[Rossm]

Bobby Bridge reports:

https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/sport/rugby/wasps-transfer-news-francois-hougaard-20188795