Always a Wasp

I completely agree, NFL is fiercely competitive and the odds of making it as an outsider are very low. Ultimately I too fear it will all be in vain, I do wish him the best though.


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https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/46626471Premiership Rugby has moved into a "new era" after a deal was concluded for private equity firm CVC Capital Partners to invest £200m.

CVC have bought a minority shareholding, understood to be about 27%, after member clubs had previously rejected an offer to buy 51%.

"This is a landmark new partnership," Premiership Rugby chairman Ian Ritchie said of the deal.

"It is positive news for the league, the clubs and the game."

He continued: "It takes the clubs to a new level and is the heralding of a new era."

CVC has previously led investments in Formula 1 and elite motorcycling series Moto GP.

"They know global sports, and that is one of the things that attracted us to them," said Premiership Rugby chief executive Mark McCafferty.

"They have a track record in helping sports develop."

Premiership Rugby says the extra money will not result in a hike in player wages, but will instead go towards improving facilities at club level and growing the league globally.

"They key thing for the next few years is to build the facilities, the infrastructure and the investment in central marketing," added McCafferty.

Ritchie, who was previously CEO at the Rugby Football Union, says the deal will not damage relations between the clubs and the RFU.

"There has to be a partnership between clubs and the RFU, and that is the best way it works for English rugby," Ritchie added.

"I see this as complementary and not in any way competitive."

https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/sport/rugby/wasps-injury-updates-bath-15566615

As much as I like WLR (notwithstanding recent issues 'out on the full x 2, in Europe vs. Bath' and 'passing to the opposition, Toulouse'), he is not close to Kurtley Beale, the 1/2 a season we had from Beale contained some truly breathtaking rugby from him and a true world class fullback. That is what we need, a few mercurial players that change games. Kurtley's ARU and Waratahs contract is up next year.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/mar/10/rugby-kurtley-beale-to-return-to-australia-at-end-of-english-season

However this is all still a dream and the realist in me says it won't happen but it would be nice. Perhaps it's the big announcement - wishful thinking!

In my mind the ideal outcome from this change is that Kurtley becomes completely disillusioned by Australian Rugby and returns to Wasps, just in time for next season. Okay at this point I fear have passed into the realms of fantasy.

I thought Searle did well but the flair Lima showed when he came on is what we need, those sparks of creativity combined with vision are game changers. Look at the opposition, Dupont was immense and was easily the best player on the pitch - flair and vision, though a few Toulouse players could have claimed that.  Our 9 did well but Dupont was in a different class, the key difference for me. Nigel Owens got the clout to Ross Neal's jaw wrong, it was a yellow IMHO, I thought Neal was excellent again - a star in the making.

Agree it is a tough one, however he provides more options and could be brought on in multiple scenarios. Searle for example can realistically only do one job.


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Looks pretty strong on paper (screen), let's hope we don't amass more injuries.....the 9 and 10 pairing will be interesting to see.

Linking this to another post http://onceawasp.com/forums/index.php?topic=565.0 ,I personally am still puzzled by the enigma that is Ambrose Curtis, not getting any game time and no public reports of injuries...and on a salary (reported by others) not pay as you play. He did look decent in the Welcome intro on the Wasps website and from what I have seen on YouTube etc. Any insights?