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Ashley Johnson is to make his playing return just over a week after becoming eligible to play the sport again following a failed drugs test earlier in the year.
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Wasps have a friendly against Pro-14 outfit Connacht at Athlone Park on Saturday, and the South African backrow has already earned a started berth.
Johnson was given a six-month ban after testing positive in February for the banned substance hydrochlorothiazide.
At a hearing conducted by the independent national anti-doping panel, the long-serving forward advised he mistakenly took his wife’s fat burner ‘the Secret’ rather than his own legitimate supplement ‘Nutrilean.’
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The hearing concluded that Johnson acted without intent, finding “no significant fault or negligence” on his part and decided six months to be an appropriate period of ineligibility, which ended on August 6.
Speaking last month, the 119kg looseforward said: “I was horrified when I got the test results and once we tracked back and worked out I had inadvertently taken the wrong tablet.
“I completely accept that I am responsible for everything in my body. Drug use is not something I would ever condone, and from now on I will be extra vigilant at all times.
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Director of Rugby David Young will also hand Wasps debuts to six new signings.
New Zealand Maoris winger Ambrose Curtis, powerful centre Michael Le Bourgeois and flyhalf Billy Searle all claim places in an exciting backline.
Meanwhile, England Saxons lock Charlie Matthews plus back-rowers Joe Atkinson and Ben Morris wear black-and-gold for the first time in the pack.
And this number could increase to nine should England international prop Kieran Brookes, former London Scottish centre Ross Neal or England Sevens product Callum Sirker make their Wasps bows from a 12-strong bench.
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Rob Miller and Marcus Watson join Curtis in a pacy back three while Juan De Jongh partners Le Bourgeois in midfield and Joe Simpson teams up with Searle at half-back.
Exciting prospects Tom West and Will Stuart partner England international Tommy Taylor in the front row, with Will Rowlands and Ashley Johnson, who captains the side, completing the forward pack.
The Coventry based side are familiar with Connacht. “We have seen plenty of them in the last few years and are expecting a really good work out,” David Young told the media today. “Our line-up for this first game does not include any England summer tourists or our more recent new arrivals. We hope to involve some of them against Ulster at the Ricoh next Friday evening.”
Wasps team to face Connacht at Dubarry Park, Athlone (3pm kick off)
15. Rob Miller
14. Ambrose Curtis
13. Juan De Jongh
12. Michael Le Bourgeois
11. Marcus Watson
10. Billy Searle
9. Joe Simpson
1. Tom West
2. Tommy Taylor
3. Will Stuart
4. Will Rowlands
5. Charlie Matthews
6. Ashley Johnson
7. Joe Atkinson
8. Ben Morris
Replacements –
16. Tom Cruse
17. Ben Harris
18. Kieran Brookes
19. Tim Cardall
20. Tom Willis
21. Will Porter
22. Jimmy Gopperth
23. Gaby Lovobalavu
24. Ross Neal
25. Josh Bassett
26. Callum Sirker
27. Kearnan Myall
Comments on RugbyPass
Completely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
3 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
54 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
54 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
54 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
54 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
54 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
54 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
54 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
54 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
54 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to comments