'We're hoping we can help develop him into a top-level Premiership prop'
Wasps are hoping their ability to turn little known props into reliable, long-term Premiership performers will again come to fruition following their latest signing of a front rower.
The Premiership outfit have had a string of successes in developing relative unknowns into finished products under the tutelage of Dai Young, the former 51-cap Wales prop who has been in charge at Wasps since 2011.
Jake Cooper-Woolley, Ben Harris and Simon McIntyre are all examples of scrummagers who have benefited greatly from Young’s coaching prowess and new recruit Mike Daniels will similarly hope to profit from next summer onwards.
The tighthead has signed from Championship club Nottingham – but the 26-year-old isn’t a complete stranger to Wasps as he stepped in as emergency injury cover and made his debut in the December Premiership match away to Saracens.
? Head 30 seconds in to check out @MikeyDaniels4' 40-metre try against London Irish last month! https://t.co/GeJYKn7kxR
— Wasps Rugby (@WaspsRugby) February 26, 2019
“Mike has a lot of potential. We were impressed when he came here for a short spell to help out in December and we’re looking forward to getting him on board in the summer,” said Young about the prop who started out in the Bath academy before moving on to New Zealand-based Northcote Birkenhead, Loughborough University, Worcester Warriors, Hartpury and Nottingham last summer.
“He certainly has a lot of room for growth and we’re hoping we can help develop him into a top-level Premiership prop, as we’ve done with the likes of Jake Cooper-Woolley, Ben Harris and Simon McIntyre.”
Daniels is hoping he can make the grade. “Moving to Wasps is a fantastic opportunity to surround myself with top-class players and to try and improve my game,” he said.
????Our new tighthead has some pace!
You don't see many score tries from by their own 22! ?
??(Go to 3:36 in the link) https://t.co/NtVetzuXti
— Wasps Rugby (@WaspsRugby) February 26, 2019
“I had a taste of pulling on the Black and Gold in December and it’s something I can’t wait to do again.
“I’ll be giving my all for Nottingham in the meantime but am thoroughly excited about the challenge of testing myself once again in the Premiership.”