The ex-Springboks' deal that ended the Wasps recruitment freeze

Wasps’ new deal for Francois Hougaard, the ex-Springboks scrum-half, was the moment that ended the recruitment freeze that hit the club over the recent summer months. Having signed big names such as Vincent Koch and John Ryan last winter for the upcoming 2022/23 Gallagher Premiership season, recruitment at the club was halted in the off-season due to financial concerns.

Holding Wasps back has been their inability to repay on schedule the £35million bond debt that was due in May. That resulted in the brakes getting slammed on what director of rugby Lee Blackett was looking to do in the market ahead of the new season, including his wish to get Hougaard back on board.

Having signed very few players in comparison to the lengthy list that had left the club at the end of the 2021/22 season, there were fears that Wasps could be left short in certain areas heading into the new season. A month ago, Blackett was expecting to start the September 11 away date at Gloucester with only the players he had with him at the start of pre-season training.

However, financial reassurance has since materialised from the Wasps board, green-lighting a fresh deal for Hougaard, the permanent signing of trialist Cam Dolan and sparking a search for a couple of more new recruits before the new Premiership campaign starts at Kingsholm.

Getting Hougaard back in the building especially pleased Blackett. The 34-year-old, who has 46 Test caps from his 2009-2017 Springboks career, signed on a one-year deal last summer from Worcester where he had spent six seasons, but terms were unable to be struck for 2022/23 until recently due to the freeze on recruitment at Wasps.

Hougaard made a dozen appearances last season and switched from scrum-half to play most of his rugby on the wing, a versatility that Blackett was keen on having available at Wasps for a second season. “Really pleased,” said the director of rugby about being able to keep the South African on at the club. “We have only just managed to agree on a deal, (the delay was) more our side than his side.

“We always wanted him and we managed to agree on a deal a couple of weeks ago, so he has had two weeks in training. We always wanted Franny, we just had to make sure we could sort everything. Franny was always the one we wanted just because he can do both, he can play nine and can play on the wing for us.

“We are always looking to improve (our squad). A month ago that would probably have been it but we are looking at the moment to get some bodies in.”

Regarding the attraction of Wasps to Hougaard, Blackett added: “It’s not only what he brings to everyone around here – he is really loved amongst the boys – it’s around what he brings as well in terms of positions he plays. He plays nine but the majority of his game time was on the wing. A lot of people saw how good he can be in that position last season.

“He had a couple of niggles at the start of last season but at this stage of his career he just loves wing and he embraced it. That is where he wanted to be and you can see the passion in him around that. I thought his defence in that area and then getting on the scoresheet a few times, you can see him playing with a smile on his face. He is loved in here and I know how much it means to him to re-sign with us.”