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Ex-Wasps out-half Haydon-Wood makes switch to France his next move

By Liam Heagney
(Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Former Wasps out-half Will Haydon-Wood has secured his short-term future, putting his October 17 redundancy behind him with a deal to play in France until the end of the current season. The recently-turned 22-year-old was one of the 167 players and staff left without work when the Coventry-based Gallagher Premiership club financially collapsed.

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It has resulted in Lee Blackett’s Wasps squad scattering to the four winds and while a number of players have secured contracts in the French Top 14, Haydon-Wood has opted to try his luck in Pro D2 with Massy, the club that is struggling at the bottom of the 16-team table with just three wins in eleven outings.

A statement read: “RC Massy Essonne announce the arrival of Will Haydon-Wood. This out-half (1.78, 85kg) had previously played for Wasps and was selected for the English U20s. After starting it with Wasps, Haydon-Wood will finish the season at Massy.”

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The time spent by Haydon-Wood at Wasps was only fleeting as he joined them in the summer and his sole Premiership appearance came off the bench in the closing stages of their final match before their collapse, the home game in Coventry versus Northampton.

Having played age-grade with England, Haydon-Wood made his big breakthrough last season when making 17 Premiership appearances for Newcastle, nine as a starter in the Falcons side.

His profile on the Wasps website read: “The England U20 international oozes speed, class and flare. We are excited to see what he is capable of in a Wasps shirt.” That grand hope went unfulfilled, though, as his Wasps stay ended less than two months into the 2022/23 season.

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Senzo Cicero 17 hours ago
'If the South Africans are in, they need to be all in'

1. True, if that “free” ticket means access to all but the prized exhibit - EVIP only. SA cannot host semis, even if they’ve earned it (see Sharks vs ASM Clermont Auvergne at… Twickenham Stoop). 2. Why no selective outrage over Lyon doing the exact same thing a week earlier? Out of all the countries France send the most “B teams”, why nobody talking about “disrespect” and “prioritising domestic leagues” and “kicking them out”? 3. Why no mention of the Sharks fielding all of their Springboks for the second rate Challenge cup QF? No commitment? 4. Why no mention of all the SA teams qualifying for respective euro knock out comps in the two seasons they’ve been in it? How many euro teams have qualified for KO’s in their history? Can’t compete? 5. Why no mention of SA teams beating French and English giants La Rochelle and Saracens? How many euro teams have done that in their history? Add no quality? The fact is that SA teams are only in their second season in europe, with no status and a fraction of the resources. Since joining the URC, SA has seen a repatriation of a number of players, and this will only grow once SA start sharing in the profits of competing in these comps, meaning bigger squads with greater depth and quality, meaning they don’t have to prioritise comps as they have to now - they don’t have imports from Pacifica and South America and everywhere else in between like “European” teams have - also less “Saffas” in Prem and T14, that’s what we want right? 'If the South Africans are in, they need to be all in' True, and we have to ensure we give them the same status and resources as we give everyone else to do just that. A small compromise on scheduling will go a long way in avoiding these situations, but guess what, France and England wont compromise on scheduling because they ironically… prioritise their domestic comps, go figure!

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