Dallaglio can kick-start Wasps' season

Chris Jones13 April 2012

Lawrence Dallaglio is set to sign a new contract that will keep him at London Wasps until 2003 and he will be joined at Loftus Road by an overseas international goalkicker.

Wasps, already out of the Tetley's and Heineken Cups, badly need a morale boost and director of rugby Nigel Melville said today: "I am sure Lawrence will be with us next season. We have agreed a contract and it's now a case of sorting out the details, but I fully expect him to stay at Wasps until the next World Cup in 2003.

"Lawrence and his family live in London, the club was very good to him during his difficult time and he's been very good for this club."

A number of Wasps players' contracts are also up for renewal at the end of the season and they know the coming months will determine their immediate futures. Melville is committed to injecting new blood into a squad that has been found wanting when injury has struck this season.

Areas of concern are prop, outside-half, wing and full-back, although it is envisaged that the man chosen to kick the goals will be able to play in at least two positions. Wasps are looking at players of the quality of Andrew Mehrtens, the prolific All Black.

Wasps' goal-kicking has fluctuated wildly between an 80 and 50 per cent success rate this season and that is not good enough for the Zurich Premiership and European competition.

Scotland wing Kenny Logan has suffered kicking problems and Melville said: "No one else is stepping up with the kind of accuracy we need and at present, we do not have any overseas players in the squad.

"At one stage we had Trevor Leota (Samoa) and Mark Weedon (New Zealand) classified as over-seas, but Trevor is now French following his marriage and Mark is working for the youth development side of the club. That gives us the ability to go out and sign overseas players and goal-kicking is the highest priority.

"We already have a strong nucleus of English-qualified players and that will not be affected, but whatever we decide to do, we must keep the club inside the £1.8 million wage cap.

"Any changes will be made over the next 12 months and we are currently looking at possible options.

"The players whose contracts are up for renewal know there are no easy rides in this game and they have to perform for the rest of the season to earn new deals." Melville is quick to point out that while Wasps' defence of the Tetley's Bitter Cup failed at the first hurdle and they missed out on a Heineken Cup quarter-final place, the club are still lying fourth in the Premiership.

The next three weeks, when Wasps' international contingent of Dallaglio, Joe Worsley, Phil Greening, Rob Henderson and Logan will be on Test duty, could be crucial. Wasps face Leicester on 18 November, but at least the champions will be similarly hit.

However, Rotherham and Sale, their next two league opponents, will be at full strength and Melville said: "Morale has been affected at the club by the problems over the training ground, which we hope to have sorted out very shortly.

"This is not the most difficult time I have known at Wasps, that came a couple of years ago after we won the league and then suffered huge injury problems the following season.

"It should be remembered that we are fourth in the Premiership, and gaining the highest possible finishing position to qualify for the Heineken Cup remains our main priority.

"But, with international players away, the pressure is very much on the rest of the squad."

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