Varndell 'over the moon' about ton
Wasps wing Tom Varndell will reach the milestone of 100 appearances for the club against Exeter Chiefs at Adams Park this weekend.
This season the wing has been in prolific try-scoring form, with 17 tries in all competitions and leading the Premiership top try-scorer’s table with two games left to play.
However, that is of no surprise to Wasps fans, who have seen him cross the whitewash 53 times in his 99 appearances and you couldn’t blame anyone for expecting him to pick up some more before the season’s out.
Scoring tries is something that clearly pleases Varndell, but you also get the sense that doing it in black and gold is something he holds dear as well.
“I’m hugely pleased to reach that kind of milestone. Especially in modern day rugby when players move around so much, to rack up 100 games for one club is pretty special. I am over the moon actually.”
The club have enjoyed some better fortune this year to last season and when asked about his highlight of his time at the club, it is that turnaround that he jumps straight to.
"Although last year was a bad year for the club, I think that what we went through and the way that we have come back is something we can be proud of.
“I’d say that the transition from last year to this year is a highlight for me to see how the squad have developed together and grown together as a unit and how things have improved.”
This weekend, Varndell and his side play hosts to Exeter in what is a crucial match up in terms of the top six and qualification for next season’s European Cup. The wing doesn’t need to be told about the magnitude of the fixture.
“We all know how important it is to qualify for the European Cup. We got a bit of a taste for it in the Leinster game. The fans want big European games, we are desperate for it and we know that it is in our own hands and it starts this weekend.
“Exeter are a very good side. They have proved time and again over the last couple of years how hard they are to break down. We know that these last two games of the season are massive in terms of our progression.
“We have played in enough big games this season to know how tough it is going to be and we know what we need to do. It is a massive test but we are very focused on ourselves and what we need to do. If we can get it right then things will go our way.”
