Where are they now? The last Wasps team to play in the Premiership
Wasps final game in the Premiership came against Northampton Saints in October 2022.
It seems like only yesterday, but it’s been two years since historic club Wasps were placed into administration.?
The former Premiership and Heineken Cup champions had outstanding debts of ?95 million, and as a result the club went under and all the staff – including players, coaches and club staff – were made redundant.
Wasps’ final competitive fixture in the Premiership came against Northampton Saints on October 9, as their later fixtures against Exeter Chiefs and Sale Sharks were cancelled due to the financial turmoil.
But, in the time since, a huge group of players from that side have gone on to feature across the domestic and international game, and here is an in-depth look at where the last Wasps 23-man squad are now.
15. Jacob Umaga
Nephew of All Blacks great Tana Umaga, Jacob made a bright start to life in the Premiership with Wasps. The versatile back made 72 appearances for the club over his six-year stint with the club, and went on to make his England debut in 2021 against the USA.
Since the collapse of Wasps, Umaga headed to Italy to join Benetton, where he still plays today.
14. Paolo Odogwu
Powerful winger Paolo Odogwu was a key figure in this Wasps generation. After arriving from Sale Sharks in 2019, Odogwu made 42 appearances in the Black and Yellow, scoring 16 tries in the process. His form also saw him drafted into the England squad, however he never won a senior cap.
Following the club’s demise, Odogwu headed to Stade Francais, and now plies his trade with Umaga at Benetton. Odogwu has also won six caps for Italy, and featured at last year’s World Cup.
13. Burger Odendaal
South African powerhouse Burger Odendaal was a shrewd signing ahead of the 2022/23 season, but he would prove to be one of Wasps’ final ever transfers as the club collapsed quickly after. Odendaal made four appearances for the club prior to the administration.
He has since joined Northampton Saints, and played a big role in their Premiership title win last season.
12. Ryan Mills
Versatile back Ryan Mills joined Wasps mid-way through the 2020/21 season from Worcester Warriors, and made 17 appearances for the club before their untimely collapse.
He later joined Sale Sharks on a short-term deal until the end of the 2022/23 campaign, and made eight appearances before his departure.
11. Josh Bassett
Elusive winger Josh Bassett was arguably one of the best wingers during this era, and played a huge role in the side that reached two Premiership finals. After arriving from Bedford in 2013, Bassett made a whopping 179 appearances for Wasps, scoring a tidy 63 tries along the way.
He was quickly snapped up by Harlequins after Wasps’ collapse, and he is now playing for Leicester Tigers.
10. Charlie Atkinson
Young fly-half Charlie Atkinson made his Wasps debut at just 19-years-old in 2020, and went on to make 39 appearances for the club across his two and a bit years at the Ricoh.
Atkinson later headed to Leicester Tigers, and made 24 appearances before joining Gloucester part-way through last season. He has also featured for England A in their mammoth 91-5 win over Portugal.
9. Dan Robson
Nippy scrum-half Dan Robson was an ever-present for Wasps following his move from Gloucester in 2015, and quickly became one of the Premiership’s top nines. He made 150 appearances for the club over his seven seasons at the Ricoh, and his form also saw him drafted into the England squad. In total, Robson won 14 caps for his country.
Pau came calling for the England international shortly after the collapse, and he remains with the Top 14 outfit today.
8. Nizaam Carr
Former Springbok Nizaam Carr arrived at Wasps on an initial three-month deal from the Stormers back in 2017, but later joined full-time for the 2018/19 season. The back-rower quickly became a mainstay in the team, making 76 appearances for the club before their collapse.
He returned to South Africa shortly after to join the Bulls, and is still playing in his rugby in Pretoria today.
7. Jack Willis
Possibly the most high profile name in this team is flanker Jack Willis. The Wasps academy graduate made his senior debut for the club in 2016, and went on to play 83 games for the club over his six seasons. His form also saw him drafted into the England side, winning 14 caps for his country.
After the collapse of Wasps, he headed across the Channel to join Toulouse, and has since taken his game to new heights. He has also gone on to win a Top 14 title and a Champions Cup in Les Rouge et Noir.
6. Ben Morris
Completing the back-row that day was Ben Morris. The Englishman joined Wasps in 2018 from Nottingham, and made 58 appearances for the club before their collapse.
Since then, Morris has hung up his boots and now works as a financial planner.
5. Kiran McDonald
Towering lock?Kiran McDonald only joined Wasps ahead of the 2022/23 season from Glasgow Warriors, and made just four appearances before their demise.
He quickly headed back to the URC with Munster, but returned to the UK for the 2023/24 season to join Newcastle, where he remains today.
4. Joe Launchbury
Iconic Wasps lock Joe Launchbury joined the club in 2010, and went on to make 155 appearances for the club in his 12=year spell. He also established himself as a key member of the England squad in that time, and has won 65 caps for his country to date.
Following Wasps’ collapse, Launchbury headed to Japan with?Toyota Verblitz, and now plays back in the Premiership with Harlequins.
3. John Ryan
Irish international John Ryan only joined Wasps in 2022, after a solid 11-year spell at Munster; but he only made four appearances for the club prior to their expulsion from the Premiership.
He returned to Munster shortly after, and remains a part of their squad today. Ryan also had a brief spell with the Chiefs in Super Rugby.
2. Gabriel Oghre
English hooker Gabriel Oghre made his Wasps debut in 2017, and quickly became a regular feature in the side with 65 appearances over his five-year spell.
He headed over to France for the remainder of the 2022/23 season with Bordeaux, and returned to the Premiership with Bristol Bears last season. His form has skyrocketed in the West Country, and he earned a spot on the England tour to Japan and New Zealand as a result.
1. Robin Hislop
Rounding off this final Wasps starting XV was?Robin Hislop. The loosehead joined Wasps in 2021 following stints in the Championship, and made 17 appearances for the club. He was quickly picked up by Saracens for the rest of the season, and helped the Londoners win the Premiership title.
Hislop has returned to his native Scotland, and currently plays for Edinburgh.
Bench
16. Dan Frost
After emerging through the National League and Championship, hooker Dan Frost joined Wasps in 2021, and made 15 appearances for the club.
The Taunton-native returned to the South West shortly after, becoming one of three players to join Exeter Chiefs. He has gone on to make 36 appearances for the Devonians.
17. Rodrigo Martinez
Argentinian loosehead?Rodrigo Martinez joined Wasps in 2021 after impressing on international duty, but only made five appearances for the club over his stint.
He was picked up by Welsh outfit Dragons for the 2023/24 season, and has played in all four of the region’s games this season.
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18. Biyi Alo
Gigantic tighthead prop Biyi Alo headed to Wasps in 2019, and went on to make 46 appearances for the club across his three seasons at the Ricoh.
He joined Racing 92 for the rest of the 2022/23 campaign, but has since returned to England to join Championship side Ealing Trailfinders.
19. Tim Cardall
After graduating through the Wasps academy, lock?Tim Cardall made his senior debut in the 2017/18 season and went on to make 55 appearances for the club.
He headed to the Southern Hemisphere for the rest of the 2022/23 campaign with the Melbourne Rebels, but returned to the Premiership to join Newcastle.
20. Kieran Curran
24-year-old forward?Kieran Curran is another one who came up through the Wasps academy to make his senior debut in the 2019/20 season, and played eight times for the club.
After the club’s collapse, he joined Championship side Bedford Blues, and penned a deal with newly promoted Chinnor for the 2024/25 Championship campaign.
21. Will Porter
English scrum-half Will Porter made his senior Wasps debut in the 2017/18 season, and made 64 appearances for the club prior to their demise. Porter then headed to Bristol Bears for a brief spell, and is now establishing himself as the starting scrum-half for Harlequins.
22. Will Haydon-Wood
Former Newcastle academy graduate Will Haydon-Wood joined Wasps for the 2022/23 season, but only made four appearances for them before going into administration.
The fly-half then headed over the Channel to join RC Massy, and now plies his trade with Exeter.
23. Immanuel Feyi-Waboso
Rounding off the match-day squad that day was little known winger Immanuel Feyi-Waboso. The Cardiff-native joined Wasps in 2022 from Cardiff, and made just two appearances for the club.
The winger was then signed by Exeter, and has propelled himself into the starting side at Sandy Park. His form has since seen him make his England debut, and he has seven caps to his name at the time of writing.
