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Wasps decision appears to end Test career of Thomas Young

(Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Dai Young’s exit from Wasps hasn’t affected the future of his son Thomas as the back row has signed a contract extension at the Gallagher Premiership club. It was mid-February when the Coventry-based club parted company with their nine-year director of rugby. 

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It was speculated in the wake of his departure that Young’s 28-year-old offspring might be tempted to join one of the Welsh regions in a bid to enhance his chances of building on his limited three-cap Test career which had been hindered by the introduction of the 60-cap rule for non-Wales based players.

However, with apparently no sign of a firm offer from the regions and Lee Blackett now installed as Young’s long-term successor at the Ricoh, the player has decided to stay where he is and continue at Wasps. “I’ve made some great friends at this club and I want to achieve something special with them,” he said on the club website after agreeing on terms. 

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Blackett added: “Thomas is a hugely influential member of the squad on and off the field. He captained the side on several occasions last year and has developed into a real leader. 

“Thomas is one of a number of players who have been here all the time I have and it’s been great to see him develop from being our second choice No7 behind George Smith to today, in our opinion, being one of the best opensides in the league.”

The pacy openside began his professional career in the Cardiff Blues academy, winning caps for Wales at U16, U18 and U20 levels and representing his country in the 2011 Junior World Championship.

In January 2014 he signed a short-term deal with Gloucester before joining Wasps at the end of that season and scoring a try on his debut, a narrow September 2014 defeat at Harlequins.

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After playing alongside Wallaby legend Smith in 2015/16, he claimed the number seven shirt as his own the following year and his form earned him a place in the 2017 Wales Six Nations. He won his first two caps on that summer’s tour against Tonga and Samoa.

Injuries have restricted him to only 21 appearances in the last two seasons, but he was named co-captain – with Dan Robson – for the 2019/20 current campaign.

 

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AM 37 minutes ago
'Freelancer' Izaia Perese shows the need for true inclusivity in Australian rugby

That's Cron's job though. Australia has had one of the most penalised scrums in international rugby for a long time. Just look at the scrum win loss percentage and scrum penalties. That is your evidence. AA has been the starter during that period. Pretty simple analysis. That Australia has had a poor scrum for a long time is hardly news. If bell and thor are not on the field they are woeful. So you are just plain wrong. They have very little time for the lions so doing the same old things that dont work is not going to get them there.


Ainsley is better than our next best tighthead options and has been playing well at scrum time for Lyon in the most competitive comp in the world. Superstar player? No. But better than the next best options. So that is a good enough guide. The scrummaging in the Prem is pretty good too so there is Sio's proof. Same analysis for him. Certainly better in both cases than Super, where the brumbies had the worst win loss and scrum pen in Super. Who plays there? Ohh yes... And the level of scrummaging in Super is well below the URC, prem and France with the SA teams out.


Nongorr is truly woeful. He's 130kg and gets shoved about. That just should not be happening at that weight for a specialist prop who has always played rugby cf pone with leauge. He has had enough time to develop at 23. You'd be better off with Pone who is at least good around the field for the moment and sending Nongorr on exchange to France or England to see if they can improve him with better coaching as happened with Skelton and Meafou. He isn't going to develop in time in super if he has it at all.


Latu is a better scrummaging hooker than BPA and Nasser. and he's the best aussie player over the ball at ruck time. McReight's super jackling percentage hasnt converted to international level but latu consistently does it at heniken level, which is similar to test level in the big games. With good coaching at La Rochelle he's much improved though still has the odd shocker. He should start the November games.

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