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'No grudges': Dai Young breaks silence on 11-month-old Wasps departure ahead of first outing back at Cardiff

By PA
(Photo by Paul Harding/Getty Images)

Dai Young says he has “nothing but fond memories” of his time at Wasps as the Welshman prepares for a first game back in charge at Cardiff Blues. Young guided Wasps to the 2017 Premiership final and made them consistent title play-off challengers.

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But he departed last February after nine years at the helm, with Lee Blackett – one of Young’s coaching staff – then steering the Coventry-based club to another Premiership final appearance following a rapid rise up the league table.

“It was the right time for me and I felt it was the right time for the club,” Young said, reflecting on his Wasps exit. “We all know that Wasps was a journey and I have got nothing but fond memories on what happened at Wasps.

“I’m still a Wasps fan. There are no grudges from me. I would love to have been a part of it at the end – who doesn’t want to go to a final? – but there are certainly no bad feelings from me. Sixteen years as a director of rugby (with the Blues and Wasps) does take its toll.

“I needed a break, really. I did feel a little bit burnt-out if I am honest. I needed a little bit of time to refresh myself and recharge the batteries. We had started turning the corner, pretty much. We had won two of the last three games in the league and a lot of players were coming back who hadn’t played a lot.

“I was always confident that we would be comfortably in the top six (last season). I wouldn’t have put my house on us being in the top four, but they really kicked on. Of course, when you see them go to the final, I would love to have been a part of that. I would be a liar if I said I wouldn’t.”

Young is now at the Blues helm once more, appointed as interim rugby director until the end of this season following head coach John Mulvihill’s departure from the Arms Park earlier this month and he takes charge for Friday’s PRO14 clash against the Scarlets.

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During his first stint with the Blues, Young oversaw European Challenge Cup and Anglo-Welsh Cup final triumphs and a permanent appointment in the coming months is widely expected. “I’m really enjoying being back,” he enthused. 

“It wasn’t something that was on my radar, initially, and although it feels like going back, it feels like it is a very different challenge and a very different place. 

“The club and I ventured into this agreement with an understanding that if they like the look of me and I like the look of them, it is something we would certainly look to progress. Both parties are not going to rush into it too much. I’m just enjoying being back involved in rugby.”

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J
JW 14 minutes ago
'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

Where? I remember saying "unders"? The LNR was formed by the FFR, if I said that in a way that meant the 'pro' side of the game didn't have an equal representation/say as the 'amateur' side (FFR remit) that was not my intent.


But also, as it is the governing body, it also has more responsibility. As long as WR looks at FFR as the running body for rugby in France, that 'power' will remain. If the LNR refuses to govern their clubs use of players to enable a request by FFR (from WR) to ensure it's players are able to compete in International rugby takes place they will simply remove their participation. If the players complain to the France's body, either of their health and safety concerns (through playing too many 'minutes' etc) or that they are not allowed to be part in matches of national interest, my understanding is action can be taken against the LNR like it could be any other body/business. I see where you're coming from now re EPCR and the shake up they gave it, yes, that wasn't meant to be a separate statement to say that FFR can threaten them with EPCR expulsion by itself, simply that it would be a strong repercussion for those teams to be removed (no one would want them after the above).


You keep bringing up these other things I cannot understand why. Again, do you think if the LNR were not acting responsibly they would be able to get away with whatever they want (the attitude of these posters saying "they pay the players")? You may deem what theyre doing currently as being irresponsible but most do not. Countries like New Zealand have not even complained about it because they've never had it different, never got things like windfall TV contracts from France, so they can't complain because theyre not missing out on anything. Sure, if the French kept doing things like withholding million dollar game payments, or causing millions of dollars of devaluation in rights, they these things I'm outlining would be taking place. That's not the case currently however, no one here really cares what the French do. It's upto them to sort themselves out if they're not happy. Now, that said, if they did make it obvious to World Rugby that they were never going to send the French side away (like they possibly did stating their intent to exclude 20 targeted players) in July, well then they would simply be given XV fixtures against tier 2 sides during that window and the FFR would need to do things like the 50/50 revenue split to get big teams visiting in Nov.

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