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Wasps confirm the exits of both Jimmy Gopperth and Malakai Fekitoa

By Liam Heagney
(Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)

Wasps have confirmed the end-of-season departures of Jimmy Gopperth, who has been linked with a two-year switch to Leicester, and Malakai Fekitoa, who will definitely be joining Munster on a two-year deal. It was last week when it emerged on RugbyPass that veteran out-half Gopperth was set to switch to Tigers while it was early January when a move to Ireland was initially mooted for ex-All Blacks midfielder Fekitoa. 

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Lee Blackett has now confirmed both players will indeed be leaving Wasps when the current 2021/22 season is over. “We would like to say a big thank you to Jimmy and Malakai for all their efforts during their time at the club,” said the Wasps boss. 

“Jimmy has provided us with countless memorable moments throughout his Wasps career. He will be fondly remembered for his cool from the kicking tee in pressure moments, including ‘the kick’ against Exeter, which will always be remembered by all those that were in attendance.

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“Jimmy’s longevity has been remarkable and we look forward to seeing him contribute to Wasps for the remainder of the season. Everyone at Wasps would like to wish Jimmy, Sarah, Bayley and Weston the best for the future.”

Gopperth added: “Thank you to everyone at Wasps for what has been an amazing seven years for me and my family. Huge thanks to Dai (Young) and Derek (Richardson) for bringing me to the club and since then to the coaches, players, and backroom staff past and present for making my time here so memorable.

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“The Wasps jersey is one I have been incredibly proud to wear. To the fans… you guys are incredible. You have helped in creating some amazing memories and moments that will stay with me, and hopefully you too, forever. This season isn’t done, and I’m looking forward to contributing what I can and giving 100% to the jersey and to the club right till the very end.”

On Fekitoa, whom Munster have announced as a new signing, Blackett said: “We will always remember Malakai for being a model professional, who gave his all whenever he has pulled on a Wasps shirt. It was great to have Malakai back out on the field at the weekend. 

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“He will continue to bring a lot to the squad for the remainder of the season. Everyone at Wasps would like to wish Malakai, Claudia and all his family the best for the future.”

Fekitoa added: “Thank you to everyone here at Wasps for these three incredible years, full of learning, new challenges, friendships and unforgettable experiences. It has been a great honour to represent this proud club. I feel very lucky to have been part of this team. There is still a long season ahead and I am going to give everything I’ve got until the last game.”

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Jon 8 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

This is the problem with conservative mindsets and phycology, and homogenous sports, everybody wants to be the same, use the i-win template. Athlete wise everyone has to have muscles and work at the gym to make themselves more likely to hold on that one tackle. Do those players even wonder if they are now more likely to be tackled by that player as a result of there “work”? Really though, too many questions, Jake. Is it better Jake? Yes, because you still have that rugby of ole that you talk about. Is it at the highest International level anymore? No, but you go to your club or checkout your representative side and still engage with that ‘beautiful game’. Could you also have a bit of that at the top if coaches encouraged there team to play and incentivized players like Damian McKenzie and Ange Capuozzo? Of course we could. Sadly Rugby doesn’t, or didn’t, really know what direction to go when professionalism came. Things like the state of northern pitches didn’t help. Over the last two or three decades I feel like I’ve been fortunate to have all that Jake wants. There was International quality Super Rugby to adore, then the next level below I could watch club mates, pulling 9 to 5s, take on the countries best in representative rugby. Rugby played with flair and not too much riding on the consequences. It was beautiful. That largely still exists today, but with the world of rugby not quite getting things right, the picture is now being painted in NZ that that level of rugby is not required in the “pathway” to Super Rugby or All Black rugby. You might wonder if NZR is right and the pathway shouldn’t include the ‘amateur’, but let me tell you, even though the NPC might be made up of people still having to pull 9-5s, we know these people still have dreams to get out of that, and aren’t likely to give them. They will be lost. That will put a real strain on the concept of whether “visceral thrill, derring-do and joyful abandon” type rugby will remain under the professional level here in NZ. I think at some point that can be eroded as well. If only wanting the best athlete’s at the top level wasn’t enough to lose that, shutting off the next group, or level, or rugby players from easy access to express and showcase themselves certainly will. That all comes back around to the same question of professionalism in rugby and whether it got things right, and rugby is better now. Maybe the answer is turning into a “no”?

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john 11 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

But here in Australia we were told Penney was another gun kiwi coach, for the Tahs…….and yet again it turned out the kiwi coach was completely useless. Another con job on Australian rugby. As was Robbie Deans, as was Dave Rennie. Both coaches dumped from NZ and promoted to Australia as our saviour. And the Tahs lap them up knowing they are second rate and knowing that under pressure when their short comings are exposed in Australia as well, that they will fall in below the largest most powerful province and choose second rate Tah players to save their jobs. As they do and exactly as Joe Schmidt will do. Gauranteed. Schmidt was dumped by NZ too. That’s why he went overseas. That why kiwi coaches take jobs in Australia, to try and prove they are not as bad as NZ thought they were. Then when they get found out they try and ingratiate themselves to NZ again by dragging Australian teams down with ridiculous selections and game plans. NZ rugby’s biggest problem is that it can’t yet transition from MCaw Cheatism. They just don’t know how to try and win on your merits. It is still always a contest to see how much cheating you can get away with. Without a cheating genius like McCaw, they are struggling. This I think is why my wise old mate in NZ thinks Robertson will struggle. The Crusaders are the nursery of McCaw Cheatism. Sean Fitzpatrick was probably the father of it. Robertson doesn’t know anything else but other countries have worked it out.

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