Former England captain Lawrence Dallaglio has not given up hope of playing in this year’s World Cup despite having to battle for his place in the Wasps starting line-up.
Dallaglio is relishing the challenge presented by young contenders James Haskell and Tom Rees – both capped by England in this year’s RBS 6 Nations – as Wasps target the European Cup and Premiership double.
Dallaglio said: ‘I’m certainly not going to be retiring at the end of this season.
‘I’ve sat down with the coaches and I’ve a big part to play at this club, both from my own point of view and in the development of players.’
Dallaglio, a European Cup winner with Wasps in 2004 and a World Cup winner with England the previous year, is still ambitious for more glory at both club and international level.
‘If you play well in the business end of the season then all options are open to you as a player. There’s lots to play for, both for me and every other player here,’ he said.
‘Whether I go to the World Cup or not, a lot of back row players are going – and a lot will be from this club. But if I don’t go there will be a job to be done here while they’re away.’
One player Dallaglio insists should be a World Cup certainty is Wasps’ Irish scrum-half Eoin Reddan, who has run into his best form at exactly the right time after being third choice for his country during the RBS 6 Nations.
‘It’s a very important position and he’s certainly not unsung within the club. He’s played his heart out for Wasps and has had to fly over to Ireland without really getting an opportunity,’ Dallaglio concluded.
