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Thomas Young paves way for Wales recall after signing for Cardiff

(Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Thomas Young has paved the way for his return to the Wales squad for the upcoming autumn internationals by announcing he is to leave Wasps at the end of the 2021/22 Gallagher Premiership and join Cardiff, the club where his dad Dai is now in charge. The 29-year-old earned the last of his three Test caps in February 2019 before a contract extension at the English club ruled him out of Wales selection due to the 60-cap rule for non-Welsh players coming into play. 

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That line in the sand will now be stepped over with Young expected to be named in Wayne Pivac’s squad on Wednesday afternoon after the flanker confirmed earlier in the day that he plans to switch Wasps for Cardiff and play again under his father, who had been director of rugby at Wasps until February 2020. 

Young said: “I am really excited to have this opportunity at Cardiff and I’m looking forward to returning home to Wales. It was a difficult decision to make because I have had such an enjoyable time at Wasps and learnt so much, which I remain very grateful for, but I’m also a proud Welshman and the opportunity to stake a claim for further international honours was too great to turn down. 

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“Once I made that decision, Cardiff was always my preference – this is my home club. I was born and bred in the Cynon Valley, I played all of my age-grade rugby for the region and still have a lot of friends here from that time. I’m looking forward to linking up with the boys and contributing next season but remain fully committed to Wasps and want to sign off on a high.

“It has been an honour to play for Wasps, such a great club. I would like to thank everyone at Wasps for helping me develop as a player, on and off the pitch over the past few years. Looking back over my seven years at the club, I have so many great memories and I have made some lifelong friendships. I will give it my all to finish my time here on a high.”

Current Wasps boss Lee Blackett wished Young well after the decision to leave at the end of the current season was confirmed. “While we are obviously disappointed to see Thomas leave, we fully understand his reasons for needing to play in Wales. Thomas has always added a great value on and off the field and he is highly respected by everyone at the club. He has been a great servant to Wasps and a pleasure to coach, and everyone here would like to wish him, Emma and Ava all the best for the future. We look forward to seeing him play many more times for Wales.”

Over at the Arms Park, Dai Young said: “When Thomas made the decision to return to Wales, we were of course very keen to bring him home to Cardiff – that goes for me, the coaches and board. It is my job to improve and develop this squad and I have no doubt that Thomas will significantly add to our strength and depth in the back-row and drive standards in our environment. 

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“He suits the style we want to play and I know he will do his talking on the pitch and show everyone in Wales how good he is. This is just the first in a number of signings we will make in this building process and the journey we are on. I know the positions we want to strengthen and we will continue to do that.”

Fresh from a man-of-the-match performance in last Sunday’s derby win by Wasps over Northampton, the expectation now is for Young to be included in the Wales squad as Pivac is down on flankers as Justin Tipuric, James Botham, Josh Macleod and Josh Navidi are all on the casualty list.

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Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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