CONFIRMED: Dai Young to depart Wasps

Following rumours from the past week, Wasps have officially confirmed that Dai Young will be leaving his post as Director of Rugby.

After almost nine seasons, Young has told Wasps he feels he has taken the Club as far as he can and now is the right time for a new voice to take the Club forward.

Young joined Wasps in 2011 and helped to steer the Club from second from bottom in the table to three successive Premiership play-offs between 2016 and 2018, including a Premiership final in 2017 when the team was less than a minute away from winning the title.

Young was named the Premiership’s Director of Rugby of the Season the same year, after the team finished top of the table for the first time in nearly a decade.

During his time at the helm, the 52-year-old also led Wasps to the last eight of the Champions Cup three times, including a semi-final against Saracens in 2016.

Young’s glittering playing career was headlined by British & Irish Lions call-ups in 1989, 1997 and 2001, while the former tighthead-prop captained Wales on his way to winning over 50 Test caps. He has also played for and coached the Barbarians.

Young said: “I am extremely proud of my record during my time at Wasps and was extremely honoured to receive the Director of Rugby of the Season award in 2017. It was proper recognition of all we had achieved as a squad leading up to that season. 

“I am very proud of the part I played in developing players who have gone on to play for their countries, like Club Captain Joe Launchbury.

“It will be tough to leave a club and group of people that has meant so much to me over the past decade, but I feel this is the right time for both the Club and for myself...

“Wasps has been a huge part of my life and I wish everyone at the Club the best of luck for the future.”

As confirmed last week, Lee Blackett has stepped up from Attack & Backs Coach to become Interim Head Coach, supported by Ian Costello (Defence Coach), Andy Titterrell (Forwards Coach), Matt Everard (Transition Coach) and Martin Gleeson (Assistant Attack Coach).