Why fans are saluting Dai Young despite his trophy-less stint at Wasps
Wasps fans have highlighted what a heroic job Dai Young done with the club after it was revealed on Tuesday that the director of rugby is stepping back from first-team duties for an interim period.
The ex-Wales international has been replaced by Lee Blackett during this period, which starts with a Gallagher Premiership trip to nearby rivals Leicester next Saturday.
There has been no suggestion that his contract with Wasps – which doesn’t expire until 2023 – has been terminated, but fans have nonetheless recognised what he has achieved since arriving in 2011.
Despite being one of England’s most successful clubs, Wasps were in a terrible position when Young arrived as director of rugby. The club were in financial trouble and faced ongoing problems with Adams Park, home of football’s Wycombe Wanderers, with whom Wasps shared a ground at the time.
A spate of high profile departures over the seasons prior to Young’s arrival meant he was inheriting a shell of the side that lifted the Heineken Cup twice the previous decade and were last crowned Premiership champions in 2008.
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These names included Lawrence Dallaglio, Phil Vickery, Josh Lewsey and Simon Shaw, as well as younger players like James Haskell and Danny Cipriani. To make matters worse, Dan Ward-Smith, Joe Worsley and Tom Rees all retired during Young’s first season in charge.
In light of the troubles Wasps were facing, the former British and Irish Lion was able to keep them in the Premiership, finishing eleventh that season, only one point above Newcastle Falcons.
If Dai has gone hope he gets the goodbye and thanks that he deserves. Hasn’t won anything but is a wasps legend for what he gave to the club in his early years
— Curtis Hunter (@curtisjhunter) February 11, 2020
Timing seems off being 4 days before a huge game against tigers after a long break from domestic rugby!!!
Either way if Dai is stepping away he should be remembered as Wasps legend and for everything he has done for the club over the years in some very tough times— Raj Samra (@Rajyybear) February 11, 2020
A move to Coventry’s Ricoh Arena in 2014 brought brighter times and the arrival of a number of stars. Young took Wasps to three consecutive Premiership semi-finals, topping the table in 2017 and narrowly losing to Exeter Chiefs in the final in extra-time. The season before, they had reached the semi-final of the Champions Cup.
Although Wasps are currently enduring a troublesome campaign, sitting in ninth in the Gallagher Premiership and failing to make it out of their Challenge Cup pool, their situation is not too dissimilar to the one that Young was in when he arrived.
The unluckiest head coach DOR in Prem history? Toiled at the beginning with an under resourced budget and kept the club up and viable. Then the period of a gslactico squad coincided with Saracens cheating and a narrow loss in the final to Chiefs. Last 2 years, club skint again.
— Jonathan Williams (@JPWilliams26) February 11, 2020
Odd timing for him to be relieved of duties…🤔
more to this than meets the eye👀— Sarah Turner (@spanishwhite) February 11, 2020
The club have seen another raft of players depart over the past couple of years such as Willie le Roux, Kurtley Beale, Nathan Hughes and Cipriani after his second stint.
Given the tumultuous time Wasps have had over the past decade, many fans appreciate what a job the 52-year-old did helping one of England’s great sides rise from the ashes.
Dai Young has been nothing less than an absolute mensch for Wasps, a stoic steward guiding a legendary club through some grim times. Lots of reasons for the current downturn, but it is probably time for a change, and if it is the end then he bows out a hero. https://t.co/3S6AsWx4KG
— Iain Alexander (@iaingalexander) February 11, 2020
Yeah seems strange… but 100% Dai gets upmost respect for everything he’s done & I’d always be sad to see him go
— Nathan (@nath_ob) February 11, 2020
It may not have been a spell laden with trophies – none in fact – but it was a job that very few coaches would want to find themselves in, let alone arrive in, and that is why Young has been commended.
With Wasps guaranteed safety in England’s top flight following Saracens’ automatic relegation, this is a perfect time to look to the future and Young’s position has been questioned throughout this season. But if he is to go, there is no doubt that his time with Wasps will be looked at fondly.
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Comments on RugbyPass
The shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to commentsOh dear, bones too suspect to continue?
2 Go to commentsBold headline considering the Canes and Blues are 1 and 2 and the Brumbies were soundly beaten by the Chiefs and Blues. Biggest surprise is Rebels 4 Crusaders 12 - no one saw that coming. If Aus are improving that’s great 👍
1 Go to commentsAnna, You are right, we need to have patience whilst the others catch up to England and France. Also it is the PWR that has been the game changer for England. the RFU put money into that initially at the expense of the Red Roses. I was sceptical at first but it has paid off in spades.
1 Go to commentsI think Matt Proctor became a 1 test AB in the same fixture. Cameron is quality and has been great this season, can’t believe’s he only 27. Realistically how would he not be selected for ABs squad this year. Only Dmac is ahead of him as a specialist 10. With Jordan out, it will come down to where and when Beauden Barrett slots back in, and where they want to play Ruben Love. Cameron seems an absolute lock in for the wider squad though. Added benefit of TJ-Cameron-Jordie combination at 9, 10, 11 too.
1 Go to commentsFarcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
1 Go to commentsHavili, our best 12 by a mile, will be in the squad, if he stays fit. JB is the most overrated AB in the last 50 years.
61 Go to commentsWe had during the week twilight footy, twilight cricket, tw golf plus there was the athletics club. Then the weekend was rugby 15s plus the net ball, really busy club scene back then but so much has changed and rugby has suffered. And it was all about changing lifestyles.
6 Go to commentsIn the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getting to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
6 Go to commentsROG’s contract is until 2027. The conversation about a successor to Galthie after RWC 2027 may be starting now. We can infer that Galthie’s reign stops then. He is throwing the Irish Coaching Job angle in because he is Irish. The next Irish coach MUST be Leo Cullen. As well as being the best coach available, coaching the vast majority of Irish Internationals week in week out, he has shown incredible skill at recruiting the best coaching staff for the job in hand. That was a failing in France. Cullen is a shrewd guy and if there is a need for foreign coaches underneath him he won’t hesitate. Rightly so. Ireland does need to start to bring Irish coaches through. Not just at the professional level but we need to train coaches to man new pathways for developing kids from schools/clubs up through the divisions.
8 Go to commentsNo Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
6 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
56 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
8 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
61 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
11 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to comments