Northern Edition
Select Edition
Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Wasps make two signings, including ex-NFL player Alex Gray

(Photo by David John Griffin/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Wasps have signed Alex Gray, the ex-NFL American footballer, and Hartpury out-half Tommy Mathews on short-term deals. It was early September when Bath confirmed that Gray had left them in the off-season after making just six appearances during his one-season stint at the Gallagher Premiership club.

ADVERTISEMENT

It was last November when Stuart Hooper initially signed the former Atlanta Falcons tight-end, an ex-England 7s rugby player who previously featured for Yorkshire Carnegie, London Irish and Newcastle. Bath said last month: “Game time would have been limited for Gray during the forthcoming season. Everyone wishes Alex the very best of luck in his next challenge.”

That challenge will now be at Wasps, whom Gray is joining on trial. The 30-year-old former back-rower turned winger has made a career total of 31 Premiership appearances, while he also played with Marcus Watson, a current Wasps winger, with England 7s.

Video Spacer

Chris Robshaw guests on the latest RugbyPass Offload

Video Spacer

Chris Robshaw guests on the latest RugbyPass Offload

Mathews, meanwhile, joins Wasps on a short-term contract from Championship side Hartpury College. The 20-year-old fly-half was with Northampton Saints and featured for England U20s last season.

Wasps boss Lee Blackett said: “We are delighted to bring Alex and Tommy on board. They are both quality players and have already added to our group in training. We look forward to seeing them pull on shirt for the first time over the coming weeks. 

Gray added: “I’m really excited to get the opportunity to train and play with Wasps. I have enjoyed some great battles with Wasps over the years and I’m looking forward to having the Wasps players and fans on my side now.”

Mathews said: “I’d like to thank Hartpury for giving me the opportunity to join Wasps. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time with Wasps so far and I can’t wait to keep contributing to the club as much as I can over the next few weeks.”

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT
LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

f
fl 13 minutes ago
Ex-Wallaby laughs off claims Bath are amongst the best in the world

“Yes I wrote that, because you had Leinster as the best team in the world. What was that based on - winning the URC this season?”

It was based on Leinster’s performances over the course of this season, and on their trophy. If Bordeaux beat Toulouse then I’ll change my mind and move them to first. But as it is I expect Bordeaux, Toulouse, and Leinster to all finish with one trophy each, and with Leinster having produced the best week-on-week performances of the three.


“One of those teams won the league in each of those years so yes they were worse. If I was a fan of either of those four teams I would rather have been a fan of a team that won a trophy than didn’t.”

That’s true - I would too. With regard to Stormers I think their trophy was very much enabled by the fact that they weren’t playing in europe, so were able to rest their players much more than the non-SA teams were so I’m not sure whether I would or wouldn’t consider them to have had a better season than Leinster in 2022, but clearly Munster and Glasgow (respectively) had better seasons than Leinster in 2023 and 2024. But if I was a fan of one of those 3 teams I would rather be a fan of a team that won 66 URC+CC matches over the course of 3 seasons (Leinster) than a team that won 46 (Munster) or 42 (Glasgow). If you think trophies are literally the only thing that matters, do you think Blackburn Rovers are a more successful Premier League team than Tottenham Hotspur are?


“You contradict yourself alot. Trophies matter in one post and in the same post coming second consistently makes you better.”

Its going to get really frustrating if you’re not willing to read what I write. I said: “Trophies matter. They matter a lot. But so does winning games. So does making finals.” How does that contradict my assessment that Leinster were better than Stormers?


“I doubt Leinster would say they have been the better team in any of the seasons you keep going on about.”

Teams generally downplay talk of them being the best, so that wouldn’t surprise me. But crucially I don’t think Leinster were the best team in 2022, or in 2023, or in 2024, so I’m not sure what you think you’re responding to.


“Lets make it clear though - you are the one who went on and on about previous seasons with your deep dive into la Rochelle and Stormers etc.”

Yeah - I did that because you brought up Leinster’s trophyless record from 2022-2024, so I thought that was worth responding to. If you’d like though I can stop responding to the things you say?

22 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ Mick Cleary: Five things Andy Farrell must get right this week Mick Cleary: Five things Andy Farrell must get right this week
Search