Wasps' Josh Bassett has found a new club

Wasps’ winger Josh Bassett has become one of the first of the club’s players to find a new home following the collapse of the Coventry-based Premiership outfit last week.

Bassett joins Harlequins with “immediate effect” until the end of the season as further cover for Quins’ backline, the club have confirmed.

Bassett, 30, has been one of the most consistent performers in the Gallagher Premiership since making his debut for Wasps in 2013.

Representing Wasps over 180 times and claiming 65 tries along the way, the 6ft 3in winger achieved the feat of representing England U20 whilst playing for original club Bedford in the Championship and was picked by England Head Coach Eddie Jones in June 2021 ahead of the team’s Summer Series Internationals.

Bassett is a strong presence under the high ball and has claimed a turnover every second game, as well as being in the top eight tackling wingers in the Premiership for the last two seasons.

“I’m excited to join Harlequins and am grateful for the opportunity to jump straight back into action with such a prestigious club,” said Bassett. “Quins play an exciting brand of rugby and I’m looking forward to trying my hand at the Harlequins Way of playing.”

Harlequins Head Coach Tabai Matson said: “We continue to be saddened and have sympathy for all the players, coaches and staff at Wasps at this difficult time. We’re happy to be able to support Josh to maintain his career and to have such a high-class operator join the group at a time where we have backline injuries.

“Josh has been one of the most consistently high-performing wingers in the toughest league in the world and we count ourselves as extremely fortunate to have him join us.

“Josh has played in a Wasps team that has embraced a similar, attack-included mindset to our own philosophy and I’m sure he will slot into the Harlequins Way of doing things smoothly.”