Wade and Haskell return to action – London Wasps team to play Bath named

Posted on Jan 4, 2013 in London Wasps

The London Wasps side to name Bath this Sunday at Adams Park (KO 15.00) in the Aviva Premiership has been named.

There’s a return to action for Christian Wade and James Haskell, while Stephen Jones comes into the starting line-up. In a positional switch, Elliot Daly is back at outside centre having featured on the wing and at fullback in the two most recent games.

London Wasps go into the game on good form, with five wins in their last seven games in the Aviva Premiership and a 100% record at Adams Park this season.

However they have already been beaten by Bath this season – 30-23 in September at The Rec – and Club captain Hugo Southwell says his side are very wary of the challenge on their hands.

“They beat us earlier this season so they will come up here confident they can get a win. They’re a very strong side defensively so any chances we get we’re going to have to take. We’ve got nine points from our two games over the festive period so far and we know that another win this weekend would be a huge boost, but we can’t expect it to happen – we’ve got to go out there and really front up.”

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London Wasps team to play Gloucester

Posted on Sep 21, 2012 in London Wasps

London Wasps Director of Rugby Dai Young has named his starting line-up to face Gloucester at Kingsholm on Saturday, September 22 (KO 15.15)

There are three changes in the starting line-up.

Tommy Bell gets his first start for Wasps in place of skipper Hugo Southwell at fullback who misses out with a hand injury this week; James Haskell starts in place of Joe Launchbury, who is out with a knock, while Zak Taulafo starts after this try-scoring impact from the bench last weekend.

Marco Wentzel captains the side this weekend as Wasps go in search of a first win on the road this season following a bonus point victory over London Irish at Adams Park last time out.

Young said: “We are looking for a consistent 80 minute performance which we haven’t put together yet in any of our three games. We have a chance of going down there and winning if we do that well, and if we don’t they are a physical side with backs who can really punish you.”

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RUGBY NEWS: London Wasps team to play Harlequins

Posted on Aug 31, 2012 in London Wasps

London Wasps Director of Rugby Dai Young has named his side for the opening game of the Aviva Premiership season against Harlequins in the London Double Header.

There are two competitive debuts in the side named to play at Twickenham on Saturday, September 1, with Italians Andrea Masi and Fabio Staibano both named in the starting line-up.

The starting side also features a return for James Haskell after a three year break since his last appearance in the black and gold shirt.

Led by captain Hugo Southwell, Young has named a side full of experience and a feature of the squad this weekend is a bench full of impact and talent with summer signings Ashley Johnson and Tom Palmer among the new faces.

Young said he was presented with a welcome selection headache this week.

“There were some pretty tough decisions to be made in a number of spots, but that is a great position to be in,” he said.

“Harlequins present the toughest possible start for us and we will rightly go into the game as firm underdogs. It will take us some time to gel as a team but we’re going into Saturday with a solid pre-season campaign under our belts and we’re looking for a big performance.”

Young added that the competition for places in the Wasps squad would only get more intense in the weeks ahead.

“There are a few guys still out who we hope to bring back into the mix next weekend. Stephen Jones has been struggling over the past couple of weeks with his back and Lee Thomas with a strain in his knee; but we are hoping they will be available for the second game. We haven’t considered Chris Bell or James Bailey either for this game with both almost recovered from their injuries, but again that’s another two to add to our options very soon.”

Tickets for the London Double Header Tickets will be available at the Twickenham Ticket Office from 10.30am on match-day

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Goode to fullback as Foden wings it

Posted on Jun 21, 2012 in England

Alex Goode will make his first international start in Saturday’s 3rd Test of the Castle series against South Africa at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth.
The Saracen came off the bench in the 2nd Test and will start at full back in place of Ben Foden, who takes over from David Strettle on the left wing.

Goode’s elevation is one of six personnel changes from the side that started in Johannesburg with Danny Care, Alex Corbisiero and Tom Palmer getting first tour Test starts for Ben Youngs, Joe Marler and Mouritz Botha, while James Haskell replaces the injured Chris Robshaw and Thomas Waldrom is in for Ben Morgan at No 8. Brad Barritt has recovered from eye surgery and is among the replacements.

England Head Coach Stuart Lancaster said: “I am really pleased for Alex. He has worked hard in training and has been pushing Mike Brown and Ben Foden close so we are looking forward to him bringing his footballing skills to this Test. Danny Care likewise has bided his time in a very competitive position, knuckled down and deserves his chance, as has James Haskell, who has played this season for the Highlanders at No 7. We felt that the pack got some momentum in the second half last week so we have gone for Alex and Tom but I am sure Joe Marler and Mo Botha can make an impact from the bench.

“The guys did the shirt proud in Potchefstroom on Tuesday and I have no doubt that the 22 involved on Saturday will rise to this final challenge as we look to end this almost 12-month season on a high.”

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James Haskell Suspended for Three Weeks

Posted on May 1, 2012 in SANZAR

James Haskell was cited for punching in the Highlanders v Cheetahs match on 28 April 2012 in Bloemfontein. He was given a yellow card on the field, and the incident was referred to the citing commissioner (white card).

Mike Heron the Duty JO said: “After reviewing the relevant material (including the match footage, footage on the SANZAR intranet, citing report, match officials report and a medical report), I followed the Duty JO process via telephone calls with the player, his lawyer and other Highlanders personnel. At the end of that process, I gave an indication of penalty of 3 weeks’ suspension. After having time to consider that, the player accepted that suspension. Accordingly, James Haskell is suspended from all forms of the game for the 3 weeks to and including Saturday 19 May 2012 (that includes three scheduled Super Rugby matches). My reasons are as follows: The citing alleged that James Haskell punched the Cheetahs number 7 (Justin Downey) twice, the first with his right hand to Downey’s head (after being held and retaliating) and the second with a left jab in the face. The citing alleged that the second resulted in Downey going down on his haunches holding his face. The footage confirmed that, and Haskell accepted that he had punched the Cheetahs player twice. The citing report also stated that Downey received stitches for a gash on his eyebrow. That was confirmed by the medical report. “

The SANZAR Duty Judicial Officer Mike Heron has accepted a guilty plea from James Haskell of the Highlanders for contravening Law 10.4 (a) Punching or Striking after he was Cited during a Super Rugby Match at the Weekend. Haskell struck Cheetahs player Justin Downey twice as he left a scrum that was being completed, with a scuffle breaking out between several players following the incident.

Haskell has been suspended from all forms of the game for three weeks to and including Saturday 19 May 2012.

The incident occurred in the 33rd minute of the match between the Cheetahs and Highlanders at Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein on the 28th April.

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