London Wasps teams to face Exeter Chiefs on Sunday August 7th and to play in the Middlesex 7s on Saturday 13th August have been announced.
Coach Shaun Edwards has named an interesting mix of new signings and young talent as well as some familiar faces in his squad for London Wasps opening match of the pre-season schedule against 2004-5 National Division 1 runners up, Exeter Chiefs at the Causeway Stadium on Sunday.
The fixture is Wasps only home game prior to the launch of the Guinness Premiership programme in September, but is bound to attract some interest as it sees the return of Wasps Heineken Cup wining centre partnership of Stuart Abbot and Fraser Waters. Waters missed the majority of the 2004-5 season with an ankle problem whilst Abbott broke his leg playing against Biarritz last October.
Abbott is clearly excited at the prospect of returning to the team, "I'm really looking forward to getting back on the pitch and playing some rugby. The leg has healed well and I'm feeling fresh and fit. There will be fierce competition for places in the centres for Wasps this season, with myself, Fraser Waters, Ayoola Erinle, Rob Hoadley and even Josh Lewsey challenging for a start there, so I'm looking to put in a good performance early on. I'm also really looking forward to renewing my old partnership with Fraser, the last time we played together was in the Heineken and Zurich Premiership Cup finals at the end of 2003-4."
The line up also features Wasps new signings, with a notable new combination at half back. Irish international Jeremy Staunton, at fly half, is joined by fellow Irishman Eoin Reddan, Wasps exciting young international hopeful who joined Wasps from Munster over the summer and is ambitious to win a place in the Ireland squad in the near future.
Edwards has stuck with familiar faces in his front row, despite the clubs' signing of three new props and a hooker in the close season, though new props David Van Eyk and Jon Dawson both feature on the bench. Included in the starting line up, Ben Gotting started several Premiership matches last season, fighting off challenges for the number two shirt for Phil Greening and the now departed Trevor Leota, whilst Academy player Tom French will be match fit and keen to make an impact following a summer stint with New Zealand side Suburbs, the team that produced Wasps forwards coach and All Black legend Craig Dowd.
A young mobile back row features Irish international open side Jonny O' Connor and England U21 James Haskell at No8, whilst Tom Rees takes to the pitch for the first time since damaging ankle ligaments against Sale in the 2004-5 Zurich Premiership Play-Off Semi Final. Rees will be one of the Wasps players to watch this season, having made an immediate impact playing for the 1XV last season, and was tipped by former Director of Rugby, Warren Gatland as the future for England on the open side.
In the absence of the injured Lawrence Dallaglio, the team is skippered by lock John Hart.
The London Wasps squad to face Exeter Chiefs on Sunday 7th August is as follows:
15 Rob Laird
14 Thom Evans
13 Fraser Waters
12 Stuart Abbott
11 Edd Thrower
10 Jeremy Staunton
9 Eoin Reddan
1 Ali McKenzie
2 Ben Gotting
3 Tom French
4 John Hart (c)
5 Martin Purdy
6 Tom Rees
7 Jonny O'Connor
8 James Haskell
16 Rob Webber
17 David Van Eyk
18 Jon Dawson
19 Matt Corker
20 James Honeyben
21 Joe Mbu
22 Tim Foster
23 Mark Lock
24 Garth Chamberlain
A week later Wasps will be in action at Twickenham, and field a youthful but exciting squad for the annual Compass Group Middlesex 7s tournament.
Heading the squad in terms of age and experience is Wasps England centre, Stuart Abbott, with the entire rest of the squad at twenty five and under. Academy players James Honeyben (scrum-half) and Garth Chamberlain (flanker) will have a chance to make an impact on the big stage, whilst new Irish signings Eoin Reddan and Jeremy Staunton will once again be on show after making their Wasps debuts against Exeter.
Quick and powerful, Tom Rees and James Haskell - both members of last season's England U21 side - will give the squad some muscle, whilst the speed will come from back three players Evans, Laird, Mbu and Thrower. The squad will be coached
by Head Coach, Shaun Edwards.
Wasps Middlesex Sevens Squad manager, Geoff Strange said, "In the last two years London Wasps have not fulfilled their potential. With the unavailability of England and Lions players, who are still being rested, we are fielding a youthful squad but they are more than capable of achieving success. It is also an opportunity for our new signings, Reddan and Staunton to show their sevens abilities."
Wasps training squad of twelve, to be reduced to ten before next Saturday, is:
Stuart Abbott
Garth Chamberlain
Thom Evans
Tim Foster
James Haskell
James Honeyben
Rob Laird
Joe Mbu
Eoin Reddan
Tom Rees
Jeremy Staunton
Ed Thrower