Wasps' players head to NZ
Fri, 04 Apr 2008 16:01
London Wasps players Dave Walder, Charlie Beech, Nick Porter and Tom Lindsay are heading to New Zealand in the first of a series of player exchanges between the English club and Kiwi province North Harbour, new home of former London Wasps forwards coach Craig Dowd.
The group spend the next few months gathering some valuable experience playing for club side North Shore, part of the North Harbour province - where Dowd is now the Rugby Development Manager.
Academy front row forwards Beech, Lindsay and Porter will depart for New Zealand this month, with Walder following them after the conclusion of Wasps' Guinness Premiership season.
The three Academy players will return at the end of July, with Walder returning in October.
Wasps' Director of Rugby, Ian McGeechan expressed his delight with the exchange programme.
"We are very pleased to be able to offer our players this opportunity," McGeechan said.
"Maintaining this ongoing link with Craig and his new province will give several of our players the chance to get some more rugby under their belts, continue to develop their game and become better players.
"Dave Walder in particular is benefiting from having had more pitch time with Wasps during the Six Nations, and I think it is clear to see from his current excellent form that getting regular games pays dividends.
"The exchange will give Dave the chance to build on the back of his good form. It is important to us to give our players every opportunity to improve, by whatever means, and for Dave, Charlie, Tom and Nick we see this as an important chance to develop their game and gather experience."
Walder was also "very excited" about going to New Zealand.
"I an very grateful to everyone at Wasps and to Craig Dowd for getting me this opportunity.
"I've never been to New Zealand before, so it will be a new country and a new challenge for me. The introduction of new laws as well, with the NPC playing under the ELVs this season, will also make playing with North Harbour a valuable learning experience, and I am thoroughly looking forward to it."
