Hoadley heads to Japan

London Wasps Defence Coach Rob Hoadley has departed the Club to take up a role with the Ricoh Black Rams in Japan.

Hoadley, who has been at the Club since 2004, first as a player then as an assistant coach and then defence coach, has taken up the opportunity to coach overseas under the tutelage of another former Wasps coach Leon Holden.

Hoadley said: “It was a really tough decision for me to go as I think we’re building a really good balanced squad here but it was too good an opportunity for me to coach overseas to turn down at this point in my career. I’ll be the team’s attack and defence coach which is a good progression for me and I am really looking forward to linking up not just with Leon but also with Stephen Larkham who is also with the Club. I am an ambitious young coach and I hope to be able to learn a different approach to the game in a different environment and come back to England a more rounded coach. I would like to thank everyone I have worked with at Wasps over the past eight years. I have learned a lot from some great coached like Geech, Dai and Gats and it has been a privilege. I want to say special thanks as well to Shaun Edwards who has been a real mentor to me and who has had a huge influence on my career.”

London Wasps Director of Rugby Dai Young said: “We’re very sorry to lose Rob who is an excellent young coach with a very bright future. He is someone I wanted to have involved next season but having been made an offer to experience a different environment overseas and with our future uncertain when that offer was made, you can’t blame him for taking it. Everyone wishes him all the best and we’re looking forward to him coming back to England in a few years having developed his coaching experience.”