A deeper squad.

[Shugs]

Adding the fantastic news about the return of Carr into the mix I reckon it's starting to look like our squad next year will have quite a bit more depth than this years. I count 9 additions and 13 departures. Crucially though of those 13 I count 6 who didn't add any real options for us last year (Zhvania,Owlett, Sopoaga, Douglas, Sirker and Jaiani). And of the 9 joiners I see them all as being options for the 23. If you throw in international duties for Rowlands the picture is still better. We've probably got another lock incoming and possibly a centre? If we land two decent players in those positions we've a surplus on last year of 4 troubling the matchday 23. With academy promotions that could be higher. If we could possibly get Mills fit that would be like a new player as Watson pretty much will be. Hopefully this will allow us to manage the periods of unavailability for Launchbury, Willis, West and Odogwu. And once they are back, with some much needed injury luck we're looking good!

[Heathen]

Shugs, I agree. 12 is my concern - the future of Mills is still an unknown.

[Shugs]

Agree Heathen - centre in general is starting to emerge as an issue. Mills and Odogwu being out leaves us with Fekitoa at 13 and Gopperth and Le Bourgeois at 12. We've not seen enough of Spink to see if he can slot in. We definitely need another body in there. Personally I know it's early days but Atkinson looks a real possibility at 12 for me.

[Heathen]

Which position does Crossdale play? Centre or wing?

[Neils]

Which position does Crossdale play? Centre or wing?

Full Back & Wing

[HDAWG]

Personally I know it's early days but Atkinson looks a real possibility at 12 for me.

+1

[Horusthewasp]

With this week’s fantastic news that Carr is ‘re-rejoining’ & Morris signing up for more, here’s where we stand:

Confirmed departures:
     - Brookes
     - De Jongh
     - Douglas (already departed)
     - Jaiani
     - McIntyre
     - Owlett
     - Rowlands
     - Sirker
     - Sopoaga
     - Taylor
     - Vailanu
     - Vellacott
     - Zhvania

Confirmed contract renewals:
     - Atkinson (and promotion to first team squad)
     - Bassett
     - Cardall
     - Cruse
     - Harris
     - Morris
     - Odogwu

Confirmed new signings:
     - Carr
     - Crossdale
     - Frost
     - Hislop
     - Hougaard
     - Mehson
     - Millar-Mills
     - Scholtz
     - Stooke

Out of contract:
     - Gopperth (according RP interview last month)
     - Miller
     - Vukasinovic

According to Blackett’s previous public commentary & Rugby Paper rumours, Wasps still have 3 vacancies; a ‘frontline’ second row, another second row and a centre.

[HDAWG]

I'm a bit surprised that there's no other academy promotions aside from Atkinson. Curran was sensational against Sarries, but since then nothing.

Perhaps if A games were played some academy players would be justifying promotions, Atkinson at least had game time.

[baldpaul101]

Curran was sensational against Sarries, but since then nothing.

hasn't he been injured ?

[westwaleswasp]

We certainly have more depth in the back row. Maybe Shields can fill in in the second row if we end up very short through injury, just as Gaskell does in reverse, so having Carr may offer more than just a great player who balances back rows.

That said, that list of leavers and incomers does not indicate an improved front row or 12, and we  have been light in the second row at times this year, whilst Mills is a worry.

[Sliminator]

Will Simmonds is another centre, was on loan at Nottingham (as we're Curran and Spink)

[JonnyD]

Wonder if we’ll see Curran and Nearchou step up as academy promotions this year as well as Atkinson.
If Nearchou isn’t trusted yet we’re going to need another LH (definitely played LH recently although believe historically he’s been at TH) unless Millar-Mills can cover both sides

[NellyWellyWaspy]

With today’s fantastic news that Carr is ‘re-rejoining’, here’s where we stand:

....

Out of contract:
....
     - Morris
....

You can edit the post and move him now to confirmed contract renewals. Only Gopperth, Miller and Vukasinovic to sort out.

[Neils]

With today’s fantastic news that Carr is ‘re-rejoining’, here’s where we stand:

....

Out of contract:
....
     - Morris
....

You can edit the post and move him now to confirmed contract renewals. Only Gopperth, Miller and Vukasinovic to sort out.

I will probably be proved wrong but to my mind the only real question is Jimmy as he was quoted in an interview as saying he was in discussions.  Rob signed an extension but we never know how long and Bobby has said he is here next year. Jack in one of his interviews said he would be in Rehab with Theo (by name) for most of the rest of this year which suggests he is still in contract.

[Steve from Cov]

I don’t think we should worry about Jimmy.