Always a Wasp

General Category => Wasps Rugby Discussion => Topic started by: wasps on January 29, 2019, 03:13:20 PM

Title: Current Squad and Movement
Post by: wasps on January 29, 2019, 03:13:20 PM

I do like a good squad thread, so I'm going to try to keep track of the current squad, and any movements in and out as they get confirmed

Loosehead Prop	Simon McIntyre	New Contract in 18/19
Loosehead Prop	Ben Harris	New Contract in 18/19
Loosehead Prop	Zurabi Zhvania	New Contract in 18/19
Loosehead Prop	Tom West
Loosehead Prop	Matt Mullan	OUT - Already Gone
Hooker	Tommy Taylor	New Contract in 18/19
Hooker	Tom Cruse
Hooker	Antonio TJ Harris
Tighthead Prop	Jake Cooper-Wooley	OUT - signed for Sale
Tighthead Prop	Kieron Brookes	New Contract in 18/19
Tighthead Prop	Will Stuart	OUT - signed for Bath
Tighthead Prop	Jeff Toomaga-Allen	IN - from 19/20
Tighthead Prop	Jack Owlett	IN - from 19/20
2nd Row	Joe Launchbury
2nd Row	James Gaskell
2nd Row	Kearnan Myall
2nd Row	Will Rowlands
2nd Row	Charlie Matthews	New Contract in 18/19
2nd Row	Marcus Garratt
Back Row	Ashley Johnson	New Contract in 18/19
Back Row	Thomas Young
Back Row	Nathan Hughes	OUT - signed for Bristol
Back Row	Brad Shields	New Contract in 18/19
Back Row	Nizaam Carr	New Contract in 18/19
Back Row	Jack Willis
Back Row	Alex Rieder
Back Row	Joe Atkinson	New Contract in 18/19
Back Row	Ben Morris	New Contract in 18/19
Scrum Half	Dan Robson	New Contract in 18/19
Scrum Half	Joe Simpson
Scrum Half	Craig Hampson
Fly Half	Lima Sopoaga	New Contract in 18/19
Fly Half	Billy Searle	New Contract in 18/19
Centre	Jimmy Gopperth	New Contract in 18/19
Centre	Michael le Bourgeois	New Contract in 18/19
Centre	Elliot Daly	very strong rumours about Saracens
Centre	Juan de Jongh
Centre	Michele Campagnaro	Until end of season
Centre	Gaby Lovobalavu
Centre	Ross Neale	New Contract in 18/19
Centre	Malakai Fekitoa	IN - from 19/20
Wing	Josh Bassett	New Contract in 18/19
Wing	Marcus Watson
Wing	Christian Wade	OUT - already gone (NFL)
Wing	Ambrose Curtis	OUT - already gone (Vannes)
Full Back	Willie le Roux	OUT
Full Back	Rob Miller	New Contract in 18/19

Senior Academy

Loosehead Prop	George Thornton
Hooker	Gabrie Oghre
Tighthead Prop	David Langley
2nd Row	Tim Cardall
2nd Row	Josh Fenner
Back Row	Tom Willis
Back Row	Will Wilson
Back Row	Kieran Curran
Scrum Half	Will Porter
Centre	Will Simonds
Centre	Cameron Anderson
Centre	Sam Spink
Wing	Callum Sirker
Wing	Jacob Umaga
Wing	Owain James

Senior Squad: 44 players at start of 18/19 season
Senior Squad: 7 confirmed out by end of season (including those already gone)
Senior Squad: 3 confirmed incoming for 19/20 season

Title: Re: Current Squad and Movement
Post by: Heathen on January 29, 2019, 03:33:06 PM

I too like the idea but could we split the academy our from the senior squad? That way you get a much better perspective of how few players we actually have, when taking injuries into account.

Title: Re: Current Squad and Movement
Post by: RBB on January 29, 2019, 05:11:11 PM

I like it, you have the full backs called out as wings.

Title: Re: Current Squad and Movement
Post by: NellyWellyWaspy on January 29, 2019, 05:20:34 PM

There are quite a few who have new contracts for this year that aren't listed as so, yes?

Kieron Brookes
Joe Launchbury
Charlie Matthews
Brad Shields
Nizaam Carr
Joe Atkinson
Ben Morris
Lima Sopoaga
Billy Searle
Michael le Bourgeois
Ross Neale
Josh Bassett
Rob Miller

I think all had new contracts for this season.

Title: Re: Current Squad and Movement
Post by: wasps on January 29, 2019, 06:02:48 PM

Quote from: NellyWellyWaspy on January 29, 2019, 05:20:34 PM

There are quite a few who have new contracts for this year that aren't listed as so, yes?

Kieron Brookes
Joe Launchbury
Charlie Matthews
Brad Shields
Nizaam Carr
Joe Atkinson
Ben Morris
Lima Sopoaga
Billy Searle
Michael le Bourgeois
Ross Neale
Josh Bassett
Rob Miller

I think all had new contracts for this season.

ahhah yes... i forgot the new recruits as signing a new contract.
Did Launchbury sign a new one this year?

Title: Re: Current Squad and Movement
Post by: Neils on January 29, 2019, 06:13:46 PM

I think Launchbury signed in December 2017.

Nice job.

Title: Re: Current Squad and Movement
Post by: RBB on January 29, 2019, 07:49:00 PM

The club needs to start thinking about the must fill positions, starter for ten, 14 and 15 for me. I am sure there are forward positions where we are light but my initial instinct is we don't have a world class FB (post KB or WLR) or 14 (post Wade)....KB is out of contract after the World Cup, if I were Dai I would be stalking him all over Japan!

Title: Re: Current Squad and Movement
Post by: NellyWellyWaspy on January 29, 2019, 08:06:32 PM

Quote from: Neils on January 29, 2019, 06:13:46 PM

I think Launchbury signed in December 2017.

He signed then, and that contract started this season.

Title: Re: Current Squad and Movement
Post by: NellyWellyWaspy on January 29, 2019, 08:12:39 PM

TT and Mac both signed new contracts for 19/20 BTW. Also ZZ, Gopps and Harris

Title: Re: Current Squad and Movement
Post by: wasps on January 29, 2019, 08:58:13 PM

Quote from: NellyWellyWaspy on January 29, 2019, 08:12:39 PM

TT and Mac both signed new contracts for 19/20 BTW. Also ZZ, Gopps and Harris

Already got those

Title: Re: Current Squad and Movement
Post by: mike909 on January 29, 2019, 10:03:52 PM

Quote from: RBB on January 29, 2019, 07:49:00 PM

The club needs to start thinking about the must fill positions, starter for ten, 14 and 15 for me. I am sure there are forward positions where we are light but my initial instinct is we don't have a world class FB (post KB or WLR) or 14 (post Wade)....KB is out of contract after the World Cup, if I were Dai I would be stalking him all over Japan!

Love to see KB in a Wasps shirt again, brought so much to the team.

Title: Re: Current Squad and Movement
Post by: BG on January 29, 2019, 11:44:38 PM

Quote from: mike909 on January 29, 2019, 10:03:52 PM

Quote from: RBB on January 29, 2019, 07:49:00 PM

The club needs to start thinking about the must fill positions, starter for ten, 14 and 15 for me. I am sure there are forward positions where we are light but my initial instinct is we don't have a world class FB (post KB or WLR) or 14 (post Wade)....KB is out of contract after the World Cup, if I were Dai I would be stalking him all over Japan!

Love to see KB in a Wasps shirt again, brought so much to the team.

So much to the team he packed his bags and left.. with a lot of pound sterling in his pocket

Title: Re: Current Squad and Movement
Post by: Brandnewtorugby on January 30, 2019, 06:18:51 AM

I find the academy list interesting, a few great names in there. It seems like Wasps are quietly building a very strong academy.  Wouldn't it be great if Umaga and Sirker turned out to be the world class replacements for WLR/Beale and Wade.

Title: Re: Current Squad and Movement
Post by: NellyWellyWaspy on January 30, 2019, 06:46:50 AM

Quote from: wasps on January 29, 2019, 08:58:13 PM

Quote from: NellyWellyWaspy on January 29, 2019, 08:12:39 PM

TT and Mac both signed new contracts for 19/20 BTW. Also ZZ, Gopps and Harris

Already got those

But they are down as new contract 18/19 (this season), but should be new contract 19/20 (next season)

Title: Re: Current Squad and Movement
Post by: wasps on January 30, 2019, 07:10:09 AM

Quote from: NellyWellyWaspy on January 30, 2019, 06:46:50 AM

Quote from: wasps on January 29, 2019, 08:58:13 PM

Quote from: NellyWellyWaspy on January 29, 2019, 08:12:39 PM

TT and Mac both signed new contracts for 19/20 BTW. Also ZZ, Gopps and Harris

Already got those

But they are down as new contract 18/19 (this season), but should be new contract 19/20 (next season)

I think i was going for when they agreed a new contract, although it was added as an afterthought so I didn't really think it through fully

Title: Re: Current Squad and Movement
Post by: Heathen on January 30, 2019, 07:55:26 AM

By my quick calculation, that only leaves us with currently 25/26 fit players to cover the VI nations period. Dangerously low IMHO.

Title: Re: Current Squad and Movement
Post by: RBB on January 30, 2019, 07:56:04 AM

Quote from: Brandnewtorugby on January 30, 2019, 06:18:51 AM

I find the academy list interesting, a few great names in there. It seems like Wasps are quietly building a very strong academy.  Wouldn't it be great if Umaga and Sirker turned out to be the world class replacements for WLR/Beale and Wade.

Umaga based on current form and experience would be a nailed on contender to join the senior squad. I don't know enough about Sirker and his form to comment, I would hope that he is good enough. Our attack has been blunt this season, when historically it has been our greatest weapon, it needs a lift and 14/15 are key in making that happen.

I would also like to see Campo offered a longer deal, he started slowly but is a tough competitor and makes the hard yards. Ugo Monye was singing his praises recently on Rugby Tonight, I would hate to see him finish the season with us, only to be signed by another club either GP or elsewhere for next season. Centres are a puzzling one for next season, we will have Fekitoa, Gopps, JDJ, Neal, Campo (perhaps) and Gaby as first team members for 12 and 13, I am assuming ED is off to the world class facilities at Saracens ;-).

I would retain all as part of the first team set-up, with the exception of Gaby, who isn't fit enough for long enough, is a sporadic quality player and ultimately makes too many errors in vital parts of an attacking play.

Title: Re: Current Squad and Movement
Post by: Heathen on January 30, 2019, 07:58:01 AM

Not sure that JdJ and Gaby will be with us next season.

Title: Re: Current Squad and Movement
Post by: RBB on January 30, 2019, 08:00:59 AM

Quote from: Heathen on January 30, 2019, 07:58:01 AM

Not sure that JdJ and Gaby will be with us next season.

They are great friends I believe, Gaby is almost certainly off. I really like JdJ, so would work hard to keep him, however France and back home in SA may appeal more.

Title: Re: Current Squad and Movement
Post by: wasps on January 30, 2019, 08:55:51 AM

Quote from: Heathen on January 30, 2019, 07:58:01 AM

Not sure that JdJ and Gaby will be with us next season.

I've been trying to find it, but I'm sure that when we announced Fekitoa, JdJ commented with something along the lines of "looking forward to playing with this guy next year"

Title: Re: Current Squad and Movement
Post by: RBB on January 30, 2019, 09:07:46 AM

He is in Paris at the moment, I follow him on Instagram, looks like holiday though.

Title: Re: Current Squad and Movement
Post by: NellyWellyWaspy on January 30, 2019, 11:09:19 AM

Quote from: wasps on January 30, 2019, 08:55:51 AM

Quote from: Heathen on January 30, 2019, 07:58:01 AM

Not sure that JdJ and Gaby will be with us next season.

I've been trying to find it, but I'm sure that when we announced Fekitoa, JdJ commented with something along the lines of "looking forward to playing with this guy next year"

He did. But on Twitter he commented that he had some hard decisions to make about next year. I think he has better offers, but wants to stay at Wasps. I doubt Gaby has an offer from Wasps, so he will be off, but we will only know when he signs with another team.

Title: Re: Current Squad and Movement
Post by: westwaleswasp on January 30, 2019, 11:45:19 AM

If ED is effectively replaced by Fekitoa, and JdJ goes with Gaby, surely it leaves us short if Michele goes too, even if we add one from the academy? Esp as Jimmy is getting on.

Of course signing to notch from SA and Aus is going to leave as many potential gaps in Autumn as Michele would if they get selected for their national teams in years with AIs,although SH players are available in Feb. I guess that is why Dai has been looking at ABs with their rigid non selection of overseas policy?

That said France are upping their home grown requirements, meaning perhaps more SH players will become available aa fewer slots will be there for them to fill.

Title: Re: Current Squad and Movement
Post by: BG on January 30, 2019, 11:51:24 AM

I'm guessing a lot of Sanzaar players who don't think they will play a part in the WC will be looking for potentially lucrative 2 yr deals in the NH.

EPL clubs still have to abide by the EQP rule though

Title: Re: Current Squad and Movement
Post by: RBB on January 30, 2019, 07:48:47 PM

I just realised I forgot Michael Le Bourgeois in the centres.

Title: Re: Current Squad and Movement
Post by: Jac A on February 21, 2019, 10:05:28 AM

I though with all the recent movement and rumours I’d have a look at where we are with players for next season.

Key – new signing, rumoured signing, (rumoured away)

LH – McIntyre, Zhvania, Harris B, West

Hooker – Taylor, Cruse, Johnson, (Harris TJ)

TH – Brookes, Toomuga-Allen, Owlett, Daniels, Alo

2nd Row – Launchbury, Gaskell, Rowlands, Matthews, Garrett, (Myall), Fardy

Back-row – Young, Shields, Willis J, Carr, Rieder, Morris, Atkinson, Vailanu

Scrum-Half – Robson, Vellacott, (Hampson), Homer

Fly-Half – Sopoaga, Searle

Centre – De Jong, Gopperth, Le Bourgeois, Fekitoa, (Lovobalvu), Clarke

Back-Three – Bassett, Miller, Neal, Minozzi, (Watson), Naholo, Worth, Moyle

Potential academy promotions:
Oghre (hooker)
Willis T (Back-Row)
Porter (Scrum-half)
Umaga (10/12/15)

Looking at that, if at least one of the rumoured tightheads comes in and Gaby gets promoted to the first team then that gives us good front-row resilience (4 in each position). I’d be very happy with Fardy for Myall in the row and I think the backrow looks very good, if Tom Willis comes up we have three full backrows which is plenty with good variety and versatility.

For the backs, I think we need four scrum-halves as Dan will hopefully be away with England so Homer coming in and Porter coming up would be good. Jacob and Jimmy provide back up at 10 so that’s fine. I think we do need another centre and I would be very happy of we did get Clarke from Bath: he young, English, can play 12 or 13 and has always looked good when given a chance. I still think we need a top winger, I think Naholo has probably signed for Irish so that’s gone. Random thought is Nehe Milner-Skudder (I know he signed for Toulon but there was a RugbyInsideLine rumour about a signed contract that wasn’t going to be honoured – some thought it might be JCW or similar – when the Savea situation broke, someone asked RIL if this was the broken contract and he said ‘no, but close’, made me think Savea may have told his ‘Canes buddy not to go there as it’s toxic - like I said, random thought). Also if Watson goes I think we need another ok winger (Charlie Walker would be good).

Title: Re: Current Squad and Movement
Post by: TheTameWasp on February 21, 2019, 04:46:51 PM

Quote from: westwaleswasp on January 30, 2019, 11:45:19 AM

If ED is effectively replaced by Fekitoa, and JdJ goes with Gaby, surely it leaves us short if Michele goes too, even if we add one from the academy? Esp as Jimmy is getting on.

Of course signing to notch from SA and Aus is going to leave as many potential gaps in Autumn as Michele would if they get selected for their national teams in years with AIs,although SH players are available in Feb. I guess that is why Dai has been looking at ABs with their rigid non selection of overseas policy?

That said France are upping their home grown requirements, meaning perhaps more SH players will become available aa fewer slots will be there for them to fill.

JdJ signed a new contract only days ago.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/47173669

Title: Re: Current Squad and Movement
Post by: AKWasp on February 21, 2019, 05:34:04 PM

Interesting point about Charlie Walker, don’t know if he’s been injured but I’ve always found him to be v impressive- probably the closest player in the prem to Wade in terms of style and raw pace. Would not be disappointed at all.

Think Jim Hamilton said Wasps still had one huge deal to announce but it was very very secret- looking at like for like players only Wade hasn’t been replaced and NMS would fit the bill.

Title: Re: Current Squad and Movement
Post by: Hymenoptera on February 21, 2019, 06:06:09 PM

I detect horse play, i cant see Jim having any rumour that Goode wouldn't have..

Title: Re: Current Squad and Movement
Post by: RBB on February 21, 2019, 06:14:55 PM

NMS would be crazy money IMO, he will probably get a rival French offer if the Toulon move collapses.

Title: Re: Current Squad and Movement
Post by: Neils on February 21, 2019, 06:54:01 PM

Agreed. If Savea is €1m per year he is going to be on similar. Out of our range methinks.

Title: Re: Current Squad and Movement
Post by: Vespula Vulgaris on February 21, 2019, 07:04:01 PM

The question isn't whether Wasps can afford it in the cap as he'd obviously be excluded, but is our benefactor, or his business partners willing to pay what it takes.

Title: Re: Current Squad and Movement
Post by: andermt on February 21, 2019, 07:12:37 PM

Quote from: Hymenoptera on February 21, 2019, 06:06:09 PM

I detect horse play, i cant see Jim having any rumour that Goode wouldn't have..

Just listened to it on the way home from work, Goode didn't say he hadn't heard it so if true he probably knows what it is as he didn't push Jim to find out what it was.

Title: Re: Current Squad and Movement
Post by: BG on February 21, 2019, 08:25:28 PM

Trying to work out who NMS is... either way I don't think anyone is worth £1m in the EPL.   

Title: Re: Current Squad and Movement
Post by: RBB on February 21, 2019, 08:26:58 PM

Nehe Milner-Skudder

Title: Re: Current Squad and Movement
Post by: BG on February 22, 2019, 05:17:03 AM

Doesn't Dai have to be careful about the EQP ratio? I'm trying to work out where we are for an average matchday squad in terms of the 75% ratio.