James Buckland

A new signing for 2007/08, hooker James Buckland joins Wasps from Leicester Tigers. During his time at Welford Road, James picked up the title of U21s Top Try Scorer in 2002/03, racking up an impressive 12 scores and played in a total of three Premiership finals as well as the 2007 Heineken Cup Final in May.

Having gathered some valuable experience from those big game opportunities, the England A and former England U21s player is looking to become an integral part of the 1XV hoping to play his part in what he envisages will be another successful season for Wasps.

His move to Wasps is some what of a home coming having been born and raised in Aylesbury. Away from rugby James is an admirer of base jumping and working with horses, a passion which he believes would have led him to a career as a blacksmith or farrier had he not become a professional rugby player.

Perhaps slightly more unexpected for a rugby forward , James also has a special place in his heart for pop band Girls Aloud, and is happy to challenge the stereotype having seen them in concert once already.

James is one of two Tigers to join Wasps this season, Michael Holford also making the move to London. Holford's influence on James' career is two fold with Buckland listing him as his rugby hero as well as noting his own personal career highlight to be that of beating his team mate in recent speed tests!

Aside from Holford, James notes London Wasps Community Rugby Manger Dave Larham as one of the greatest influences in his career as well as Harry Jackman his junior rugby forwards coach. Although injury early in the 2007/08 has some what staggered his season so far, Buckland is back on form and made his intentions clear in Wasps recent trip to Kingsholm with his first Premiership try for the club.