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Paolo Odogwu jokes at his own expense, admitting he signed new club contract 15 days before England call-up
Paolo Odogwu has had a laugh at his own expense, revealing that he signed his Wasps contract extension the day before his two-try man of the match display earlier this month at Bath which was followed by his call-up to Eddie Jones’s England squad for the Six Nations.
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It was announced on Monday that the 23-year-old had signed an unspecified length contract extension at his Gallagher Premiership club.
The perception was that Wasps had moved fast to pin down their man now that Odogwu had just been included by England and was suddenly a more coveted player in greater demand.
However, Odogwu has admitted that he put pen to paper on his new deal on January 7, 15 days before his value increased with his Test level call-up by Jones.
Appearing on the latest episode of The Rugby Pod ahead of his first day in camp with England on Wednesday prior to the February 6 home game versus Scotland, Odogwu revealed with a smile that he had got the timing of his new deal all wrong given what had since happened to him in recent weeks.
*** NEW EPISODE ***
England's new star @notoriousPCO
Guzzie leaving Quins
Ashie… you're welcome
Six Nations squads
Some BIG rumours
Jim goes full Scottish for Burns nightiTunes – https://t.co/Z0W7hmZcGw
Spotify – https://t.co/oYN4E6hG7j pic.twitter.com/naivvUQkpA— The Rugby Pod (@TheRugbyPod) January 26, 2021
“I actually re-signed the day before the Bath game,” he said, laughing how that probably left him out of pocket now that he has been elevated to the international ranks. “That was in the pipeline from the start of the season so once I started playing and showing my worth, we were having conversations trying to sort it out and then we got the deal done. Then I had that Bath game and all this international stuff, so it’s the opposite of how everyone thinks it has gone.
“But it was good. I wanted to stay at the club. It’s a good place and there is such a good vibe at the moment that I want to keep going… coming into the end of last season we were doing so well and I wasn’t involved as much as I wanted to be.
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“But still being part of that winning mentality and great culture coming into this year just drove me. I needed to be in this team, I needed to play and Malakai (Fekitoa) getting injured gave me the opportunity to get involved. I haven’t looked back since.”
He never imagined, though, England selection would follow so quickly. “I literally didn’t think I’d be on England’s radar at all to be honest because they had been doing so well recently and keeping the same sort of squad together and it has been working.
“I was surprised to get any sort of international call. The Italy conversations happened and that blew up in the media and then it was after that I got the call from Eddie telling me I was on the radar.
“That little carrot from England that I might actually get in the squad meant I held off on the Italy thing and said I’d wait to see what happened but I didn’t expect it to be this Six Nations. That was a pleasant surprise,” he said, adding that he now hopes to be considered as both a winger and an outside centre having thrived recently in both positions at Wasps.
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“With the smaller squad they are taking (just 28), I will be covering both. It gets me in the mix and gives me more of a chance of being involved. I definitely want to be an option at both. I’ve loved playing 13 this season. I’m a bit more involved and get on the ball more, get in the thick of it. Yeah, definitely covering both but I’m enjoying 13.”
The words of Eddie's former mentor were in his thoughts when he made the decision to include Paolo Odogwu as a bolter in his 28-man squad. https://t.co/zl4o2HsIvA
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) January 23, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
9 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
24 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
9 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
17 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
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