Snippet of article from the Telegraph around how clubs are managing their spending profiles. The full article (the second half - the first half of the clubs, alphabetically, was published yesterday) is here:
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/2022/08/23/premiership-salary-cap-special-report-part-two-clubs-squad-buildingWasps Possible excluded player: Joe Launchbury
In a summer that saw a swathe of established professionals released from their clubs, the situation at Wasps was particularly tough. James Gaskell, Rob Miller and Marcus Watson were among those to leave. Watson, now of Benetton, and Gaskell, joining Shokki Shuttles in Japan, have had their onward destinations announced.
Lee Blackett conceded that he could not compete with the price that Scarlets tabled for Vaea Fifita, citing “the way of the Premiership at the moment”. Thomas Young has also moved to Wales, with Cardiff, while Malakai Fekitoa and Jeffery Toomaga-Allen opted for Munster and Ulster, respectively.
Blackett is admirably open. He admitted that financial uncertainty was also the reason for Jimmy Gopperth’s departure. After discussions in December, Wasps explained that they needed a couple more months to determine whether they could table another offer. In the interim, Leicester Tigers pounced.
It is not all doom at gloom, though. Tighthead prop was clearly targeted for recruitment, and Wasps acquired John Ryan in January after the 24-cap Ireland international was released by Munster. A month prior to that, it was confirmed that the club also lured Vincent Koch away from Saracens with what must have been a significant offer.
Other arrivals include Burger Odendaal, a flinty centre from South Africa who will have come markedly cheaper than Fekitoa, and former Glasgow Warriors lock Kiran McDonald. Immanuel Feyi-Waboso is an intriguing addition to the back division, too.
Will Haydon-Wood, fresh from establishing himself at Newcastle, joins a squad that is high on homegrown talent from Tom West to Sam Spink via Charlie Atkinson and Jack Willis. Blackett has used his contacts in the Championship to find players such as Elliot Millar-Mills, the ex-Ealing Trailfinders prop, and former London Scottish lock Theo Vukasinovic.
Joe Launchbury, the club captain, is likely to be the excluded player – if one of those is required – with Brad Shields and Francois Hougaard among the highest earners. Amid some financial troubles with regard to HMRC and their stadium, though, there are important renewals to land. Alfie Barbeary, Dan Robson and Tom Willis are all thought to be out of contract next year.
Topic: Wasps spending profile (Read 1786 times)
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