Seven Wasps academy products graduate to first team

Wasps have confirmed that Seven Academy players have signed first-team deals ahead of the 2019/20 campaign.

Tom Willis, Gabriel Oghre, Will Porter, Tim Cardall, Callum Sirker, Owain James and Sam Spink have all graduated from the Academy, reinforcing the Club’s intent on bringing through and developing young talent.

The septet have all impressed in the Premiership Rugby Shield for Wasps A while some have gone on to play first-team rugby in the Premiership Rugby Cup in 2018/19.

Willis, Oghre and Porter also all went on to make their Premiership debuts during the 2018/19 campaign, as an exciting crop of talent prepare for their first seasons in the senior set-up.

Wasps Director of Rugby Dai Young said: “We’re thrilled to see these lads come through the system and we’re really pleased with how they’ve performed across the competitions over the last 12 months.

“They’ll now take that next step up to test themselves at a higher level, and to also learn and train regularly alongside more experienced and talented individuals.”

Wasps Academy Manager Jon Pendlebury added: “To have seven Senior Academy players progress into the first-team set-up is a testament to the work that goes on behind the scenes here at Wasps.

“We have some incredible coaching staff with Matt Everard, Andrea Masi and Matt Williams, while the support staff play a key role in preparing these players physically and mentally for the challenges and expectations of a senior professional game environment.

“I have no doubt that we will see more players coming through the system in the coming seasons and hopefully this group will really step up in 2019/20, earn more first-team recognition, and contribute to the success of the Club.”

Wasps 2018/19 Graduates

Tom Willis

Back-row
18/01/99 (20)
Younger brother of Wasps first-team star Jack
Made Premiership debut v Saracens in October 2017, first Premiership start in November 2018 v Northampton Saints
Honours: England U18, England U20 – scoring four tries in five appearances at recent Six Nations and also captaining them in final three games
Heading to Argentina later this month for World Rugby U20 Championship
Made 11 Wasps first-team appearances, six during 2018/19 season
Scored maiden Wasps try in November v Northampton in Premiership Rugby Cup
Featured six times in Premiership Rugby Shield including one try in 2018/19
Named as 2018/19 Academy Player of the Season
Gabriel Oghre

Hooker
25/05/98 (20)
Honours: England U20
Made Premiership debut this season off the bench against Saracens
Featured in nine of Wasps A’s ten matches in the Premiership Rugby Shield, captaining the side on occasions while also crossing for three tries
Six first-team appearances, including three in 2018/19
Will Porter

Scrum-half
14/12/98 (20)
Honours: England U18
Made seven appearances in 2018/19 Premiership Rugby Shield, crossing for two tries – including one stunning length-of-the-field burst again Leicester Tigers A
11 first-team appearances, including seven in 2018/19
Tim Cardall

Lock
13/01/97 (22)
Honours: England Students
Played every minute in all ten of Wasps A’s Premiership Rugby Shield games, scoring two tries
Has made three first-team appearances, two of which came in this season’s Premiership Rugby Cup
Spent time with Nottingham Rugby on dual registration during 2018/19
Callum Sirker

Winger
14/05/98 (21)
Scored a whopping 11 tries in ten Shield appearances, second top-scorer in the competition to Adam Radwan who had 12
Honours: England Sevens
Made his Wasps first-team debut this season in Premiership Rugby Cup, his sole appearance to date
Spent time with Richmond on dual registration during 2018/19
Owain James

Full-back
23/09/96 (22)
Eight first-team appearances including two tries
Restricted to only two Premiership Rugby Shield and two Premiership Rugby Cup appearances this season due to an ACL injury
Sam Spink

Centre
06/10/99 (19)
Two first-team appearances
Played five Premiership Rugby Shield games during 2018/19, scoring one try, but had opportunities limited this season through injury
Honours: England U18, England U20 – earned his first U20 cap in April but an unfortunate ankle knock means he’ll miss this summer’s World Rugby U20 Championship
Featured in one game for Nottingham Rugby in 2018/19, scoring one try