Five players to stay at Wasps
Cooper-Woolley joined Wasps from Cardiff Blues in 2013, with his potential already spotted by Dai Young the previous season during his stand-out performances for Cardiff University. He has become a key figure in Wasps’ pack with his performances at tight-head earning him another England call-up for the tour to South Africa.
Gaskell arrived at Wasps in 2014 and has impressed in the second row, including a man of the match performance in Wasps’ home win over Toulon this season, before a foot injury cut short his season.
England Under-20 prop Alex Lundberg, who was nominated for Wasps’ Academy Player of the Season, has been awarded a contract with the senior squad. Lundberg has had an excellent season on loan in the Championship, helping Bedford to reach the play-offs.
McIntyre, who can play on both sides of the scrum, joined Wasps from Sale Sharks in 2011 and has gone on to make over 100 appearances for Wasps. Forming a strong loosehead trio this season with co-captain Matt Mullan and newcomer Tom Bristow, McIntyre has been at the heart of Wasps’ successful 2015/16 campaign, featuring in 25 out of 31 games.
Highly-rated second row prospect Rowlands, who is a graduate of Wasps’ Academy and Oxford University, spent the early part of the season on loan with Jersey, before returning to make seven appearances for Wasps.
Wasps’ Director of Rugby Dai Young express his delight with the five players: "We’re delighted to have extended the contracts of these five players, who all deserve their new deals after impressing for Wasps again this season.
"It’s been couple of years of change at Wasps and, with the move of the training ground and playing staff to Coventry next season, we’re really pleased another five players have bought into the vision and are enjoying the direction [Wasps] is moving in.
"Jake, James, Alex, Simon and Will are all at different stages of their development, but each of their games has come on significantly this season and, as young, talented players, they still have plenty of exciting potential to fulfil. They will be looking to kick on with their careers and we’re very pleased they will be doing that in black and gold," he added.
Cooper-Woolley said: "I’m very happy with how things have progressed for me personally here at Wasps, after being given the opportunity by Dai. It’s great to see now how the club is starting to become successful again, competing at the top end of the table and it feels like a great place to be.
"I’ve learned bucket-loads while I’ve been at the club, concentrating on scrum-time and getting used to working in a full-time environment. The change in my game is immeasurable really and I think I’m a totally different player now to when I arrived, thanks to the coaches here, like Dai, Brad in defence and Lee [Blackett] and before that Steve [Jones] in attack. It’s a good place for me to enjoy my rugby and I can’t imagine playing anywhere else," he said.
Gaskell said: "I’m obviously over the moon to have extended my contract here at Wasps. It’s been another really good season for the club. I’ve felt my game has developed massively over the last couple of seasons here and I hope to be able to continue to improve as a player,"
McIntyre said: "I’m really pleased to have signed a new contract with Wasps. I feel my game has really come on during the past couple of years and that’s coincided with the club also really moving forward.
"In my first year here, we were in a relegation battle, this season we have reached two semi-finals. I’ve really enjoyed being part of that progression and it was fantastic to experience a European and Premiership Semi Final. It’s something I, like all the guys, want to experience more of and where we want to be. I’m sure this squad will continue to progress and will hopefully soon be playing in Finals and winning silverware," he added.
Alex Lundberg said: “I’m really pleased to have been given this opportunity and to commit my future to the club. I’ve had a personal attachment to Wasps since 2000, when I started playing in the minis here as a six-year-old, and I have loved my time at Wasps Academy since I was 14,"
Rowlands said: "I'm really happy to have been able to commit to Wasps in what is going to be an exciting new chapter in the club's history. I've been fortunate to be surrounded by some very talented players and coaches over the past two years, and I'm really glad that I will be able to continue my development around them. This year has given me a small taste of Premiership and European rugby, and I am looking forward to pressing my case for more involvements next season,"
