'Lightning speed and power' - Wasps confirm signing of Zach Kibirige
Wasps have signed signed winger Zach Kibirige from Newcastle Falcons.
It was a move that was expected, with RugbyPass revealing last month that a contract had been agreed between the player and club.
The 24-year-old will make the move in the summer and becomes the Black and Golds’ 11th signing ahead of the 2019/20 campaign.
The Teesside-born wing signed for the Falcons Academy before making his debut at the age of 17 and announced himself with an 80-metre interception try on his league debut for the Club.
Kibirige has represented his country at Under 17, 18 and 20 levels, with his biggest moment in an England shirt coming in the 2014 Six Nations match against Wales at Kingston Park, when he collected the ball in his own 22 and beat six defenders to score a stunning solo try.
In the summer of 2015 Kibirige added to his international honours when he was called up to the England Sevens side for the Rugby European Sevens Grand Prix Series event in Lyon.
During the 2018/19 season, the winger impressed in all competitions, scoring nine tries in 12 appearances for the Falcons.
Wasps Director of Rugby Dai Young said: “We didn’t expect a player of Zach’s calibre to become available at this stage of the season and it was simply too good of an opportunity to miss.
“Zach has lightning speed and power and has proven himself at the top level so I have no doubt he will add some real firepower to our flanks.
“Since the departure of Christian Wade, we’ve been looking to inject some raw pace into the side and with the signings of Zach and Paolo Odogwu, alongside Callum Sirker graduating into the first-team set-up, we have three exciting, young English-qualified players with a huge amount of potential.”
Kibirige said: “I’m looking forward to making the switch to Wasps and continuing to test myself at the top level. Hopefully I can show what I can do and drive standards across a competitive back three.
“I’d like to say a huge thanks to my hometown club Newcastle and the supporters for the past seven seasons and wish them all the best of luck in the future.”
In other news: Shoulder surgery likely to end Nehe Milner-Skudder’s World Cup hopes.
Comments on RugbyPass
What a pathetic little twit Andy Goode is, as if we care what he thinks…..😂
104 Go to commentsFoxy has been a wonderful player for the Scarlets and Wales.
1 Go to commentsNika the Georgian is the best referee in the world at the moment. Luckily we will be spared the shite SH refs and Barnes will hopefully remain retired given how shite and embarrassing he was at the RWC.
2 Go to commentsThis is the most exciting game of the summer imo, as we really won’t know in advance how both teams are going to play. - Will Robertson just reproduce his Crusaders tactics from last year, or will there be a conscious effort to borrow from the Hurricanes and Blues, and from the aspects of the ABs world cup strategy that worked well? - England under Borthwick have put in some good performances playing attacking rugby, and some good performances playing kick-oriented defensive rugby. Will Borthwick try to merge them together into a single all-court game, or will he continue switching between different approaches depending on the strengths and weaknesses of the opposition?
1 Go to commentsI’m predicting an aggregate points difference of no more than +/-10pts across both matches this series.
1 Go to commentsI’m predicting an aggregate points difference of no more than +/-10pts across both matches this series.
9 Go to commentsFinals are always tense affairs for the players so I do not expect this to be a spectacle of running rugby unfortunately.
2 Go to commentsBulls***': Ex-England international calls out Eben Etzebeth… Not to his face but from very far away… after he’d left. Checked to make sure he wasn’t in the building.
104 Go to commentsHopefully this will mean a new Auckland league team to support in the west. Big Warriors fan but it’s very, very stale on that front and I’d like the option of another team if it was to watch league again. League needs to step up BIG time if its to get anywhere, another AK team and something from the capitol or south is a must for the game.
3 Go to commentsGood, deep interview, nice job Frankie!
1 Go to commentsNRL players don’t have anywhere near the number of Tests. Some people would be happy having Rest Homes full if 40 yo ex-players walking, or hobbling more like it, into walls. It’s just a game!
4 Go to commentsNOW Razor is worried about ABs getting injured or overplayed! Didn’t bother him last year. He happily played his AB Crusaders.
4 Go to commentsWhat is the World Rugby U20 players born year.
2 Go to commentsMuch like the Chiefs finally gave up waiting for Atu Moli to ever not be injured, you have to wonder if the Chiefs and Crusaders will let Josh Lord and Ethan Blackadder go next season. They’re being well paid to sit in the injury ward every year. Better off putting those funds towards someone who might actually play.
7 Go to commentsShowed better basic skills than some nz Super sides, who probably would have botched some of those backline moves. This tournament really is too short though. Needs more teams, or have them play two rounds to properly prepare them for the near full-time NH U20 sides.
4 Go to commentsGood grief it’s only six months. Probably just upset it’s not an established kiwi entering their prime they can “project” into green to join the rest.
3 Go to commentsGood player but far from being best in the world. That's an exaggeration. Perhaps Best in world by Northern Hemisphere standards and biasis but certainly not Southern Hemi standards
3 Go to commentsWell one thing about World Cup knock out rounds and Ireland is very clear: they won’t be getting ahead of themselves in ‘27! Because making it beyond the QF is well and truly ‘IN THEIR HEADS’ now…😉
104 Go to commentsHas this guy been dope tested? Sounds like a case of “roid rage”.
1 Go to commentsI would like to see him say that to Eben face to face in a dark alley.
104 Go to comments