RUGBY

Wasps’ former Director of Rugby Dai Young speaks out fully for the first time since leaving the club

Just under a month ago, Coventry Telegraph broke the news that Wasps’ Director of Rugby, Dai Young was stepping down from his role after nearly nine years at the club.

Now, he has spoken out for the first time since leaving the Coventry based side about how his former club are doing without him and what’s next for his career.

WHAT HE SAID

ParkLife Sport have picked out and analysed the key quotes from Young’s interview with the Coventry Telegraph.

“It’s been lovely spending a bit of time catching up with people that I always promise I am going to catch up with and never do

“It allowed me to go home and watch my sons Owen and Lewis play, which I don’t get to do that often. It’s given me time to visit my parents. That’s taken up my three weeks.

“The director of rugby job is an all-consuming job, you can forget to look after yourself. I want to rest up as well and take a break from it and recharge my batteries.”

Wasps haven’t lost a game since Young’s departure. Under interim head coach Lee Blackett, the side have picked up three bonus point wins and currently sit in fifth place in the Gallagher Premiership.

Young is delighted with what his successor has achieved so far.

“A big well done to the coaches, to the players and to everybody at the club. I am absolutely thrilled, hopefully it will continue and it would be great if we can carry on and finish in the top six and, who knows, even sneak into the top four. To achieve top six would be one hell of an achievement.”

“I am absolutely delighted for everyone at the club,” said Young. “I can’t help but sit with a wry smile when I’ve seen these results because you tend to think, well ‘I told you so’. It’s something I’ve been saying constantly during the first part of the season.”

Their most recent victory came over Gloucester just over a week ago, when both sides picked up a try bonus point. However, Billy Twelvetrees’ kicking boots were no match for Jimmy Gopperth’s on the day as he added the extras to give Wasps their third consecutive win.

Lee Blackett in the post match press conference after Wasps v Gloucester.

ParkLife attended the game at the Ricoh Ajrena and in his post match press conference after the Gloucester game Blackett was questioned on how he’s enjoying his time as stand-in coach.

He joked that he only enjoyed the job when his team were winning, which gained a few chuckles around the room.

He also said: “I’ve got to keep reminding myself to keep enjoying it. I think everyone’s enjoying it at the moment, I think there’s a really good feel around players and staff at this moment in time.

“We’re trying to keep the form and keep setting new standards and improve week on week.”

WHAT’S NEXT

Dai Young has an impressive rugby portfolio both on and off the field playing in both rugby codes.

He played for Swansea and Cardiff at club level whilst also making it to the National team and the British and Irish Lions being the only person to tour for the joined team in three separate decades.

He also coached Cardiff Blues for almost eight years before moving to be the director of rugby at Wasps for almost nine years. He also lead the Barbarians on four separate occasions. However, he is unsure of what’s next for him.

“I don’t really know what the future holds for me, but it’s quite exciting and quite daunting as well when you haven’t got anything mapped out for you.”

However, despite his own uncertainty he is certain that his former club will prosper in the near future.

“I think Wasps will start moving all the dark clouds that have been over us for the last 18 months and I think the sky is going to be a lot brighter. The future is going to be a lot more positive and Wasps are going to go from strength to strength and be a real force over the next couple of seasons.”

It is unknown when Wasps will play their next Premiership fixture. They are due to play Northampton Saints this Saturday but it is believed that all games will be cancelled due the coronavirus. A meeting is to be held today to decide it’s fate, and ParkLife Sport will be covering the latest as and when it happens.

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