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http://www.wasps.co.uk/news/wasps30604.ink?newstype=N
London Wasps can today confirm a trio of new signings for the 2009/10 season. Centre Steve Kefu, number 8 Dan Ward-Smith and wing Tom Varndell will join Wasps signing two year deals with the Club. Kefu, a former Wallaby with six caps for Australia between 2001-2003, joins Wasps from Castres Olympique. The 29 year old centre who has spent the last three seasons with the French side can also boast honours with Queensland Reds, having spent an eight year career with the Super 14 side prior to his move to Europe. Currently part of the Castres Olympique outfit, Kefu will offer Wasps great experience in midfield, and said on signing:
"I am very excited to join London Wasps. They are a very strong Club who have achieved more than any other side in Europe and the chance for me to be part of that and help continue their success is a great opportunity. Having played alongside Dan Leo at Queensland Reds, I know from him and from visiting the training ground more recently, that there is a great sense of unity and pride and a fantastic set up in place. Playing against Wasps earlier this year, the talents are undeniable – not only the big names but the young players coming through - particularly Dominic Waldouck who impressed me in our game at the Stade Pierre - Antoine. To join such a prestigious Club and play rugby in the most competitive competition in the Northern Hemisphere, will be a huge challenge and a huge opportunity for me – one which I am really looking forward to."
Ward-Smith, the second of Wasps new signings joins the Club after four seasons with Bristol. The powerful number 8, whose speed belies his size, will further strengthen Wasps forward contingent for the next two seasons.
Joining Bristol from Plymouth Albion as the side returned to the Guinness Premiership for the 2005/06 campaign, Ward-Smith made a big impression in his first season forcing his way into England A reckoning. Having made his mark on both the domestic and international scene with a very strong 2006/07 season, a serious knee injury ended his campaign in January. An ill timed injury for the back row forward who had been involved in England training in the Autumn internationals and had been named in England's Six Nations squad, set for a first cap against Scotland when he suffered the setback. Despite this, Ward-Smith was still recognised for his impact on the Premiership and all round athleticism, speed and power – named as runner up in the 2007 PRA Player of the Year Award.
Receiving further validation, Ward-Smith got the nod for England's training squad for the 2007 Rugby World Cup. However, still working to complete his rehabilitation, he missed out on the final cut. His potential and sheer talent was evident though and returning to his Club he maintained the position of first choice number 8, clocking up a total of 80 appearances and 60 points to date.
On joining the Club Ward-Smith said, "I can't wait to get started and I am very excited about joining a Club with such a history of success and vast collection of silverware. For me it is a great opportunity to take my career to its next stage and develop my game, working alongside some of the best people in the industry. I have enjoyed four very good seasons with Bristol and thank all of those who have helped me throughout my time with the Club and am now looking forward to my next challenge come the close of the season. I still have great ambitions to play for England and Wasps have a proven track record of producing and developing players to their full potential and I am really looking forward to becoming a better player, whilst helping to strengthen such a great Club."
Completing the trio, winger Varndell will add further force to Wasps back division for the next two seasons. A product of Colston's Collegiate, Bristol and Leicester Academy under Dusty Hare, Tom played for England U21s, taking part in every one of the team's 10 matches in 2005, including the IRB U21 World Championships in Argentina. Bursting onto the international sevens circuit in Dubai in 2005, just six days after earning his first senior England cap against Samoa at Twickenham, his ten try tournament tally earned him the Player of the Tournament award. He saw more sevens action in Wellington and Los Angeles in 2006, before playing in the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne in March that year, where he earned a silver medal and was part of England's summer tour of Australia in 2006.
Varndell, who has topped Leicester Tigers' try charts for three successive seasons, made his Premiership debut against Gloucester in November 2004, going on to score three tries in his next game against Worcester - the quickest hat trick (13 minutes) by a Tiger in Premiership history. A treble against Wasps followed in 2006 and a third hat trick came at Harlequins in 2007/08.
The Guinness Premiership Young Player of the Year and Land Rover Discovery of the Year in 2005/06, he scored 16 times in 22 starts during the Double-winning season of 2006/07 and grabbed two tries in the EDF Energy Cup Final victory over the Ospreys at Twickenham. Significantly he got the winning score against Stade Francais in the 2007 Heineken Cup quarter - final and helped ensure victory over Harlequins in May 2008, to a secure a place in the Guinness Premiership semi finals.
He also scored twice for England Saxons in the win over Ireland A at Welford Road in February 2008 and was named in the squad for the 2008 Barclays Churchill Cup before being called up to the senior squad.
On joining the Club Varndell said, "I am very pleased to be joining London Wasps, a Club whose history and achievements speak for themselves. Having played for a Club like Leicester, the move to Wasps offers me a new challenge in a new environment and speaking to Lawrence Dallaglio, Ian McGeechan and Shaun Edwards as well as current Wasps players, there is a really good feeling at the Club despite a pretty tough season. I have been very impressed with what I've seen and heard. I am just really looking forward to being a part of it.
"As well as achieving with the Club on the domestic stage, I have great ambitions to play for England and when you look at the players that have come through Wasps into the England set up, you see just how much goes into developing players to their full potential. Watching guys like Paul Sackey turn from great Club men into one of the best in the international arena, you know that the set up at Wasps is world class and I am looking forward to being a part of that and learning from some of the best in the game."
With the three signings adding further speed, strength and depth to the squad list, Director of Rugby Ian McGeechan said on the news:
"As a club we are delighted with these three outstanding signings. Dan Ward-Smith one of the strongest back row carriers in the Guinness Premiership and a very high quality player who we are delighted to have join us. We have a great history of back row players at the Club and we know he is going to add a lot to the squad. Tom Varndell is a very exciting signing for us. Probably one of the most promising young wingers in the game and at just 23 we feel he will bring a lot again to the way Wasps want to play. Steve Kefu provides us with the experience we want to replace Riki Flutey at 12. Not a dissimilar player, his experience will be a great benefit to the squad and will be very good for our younger players.
"With both Tom and Dan recognised by the international set up over the course of their careers, it would give us great satisfaction to see them follow so many players who have joined this Club and go on to put on an England shirt. They are both great talents with great potential for both Club and country and as coaches we look forward to working with all three of these players next season."
Head Coach Shaun Edwards added, "These signings show our intent to be challenging for honours next season. Steve Kefu's an Australian test player who's a very creative 12 and comes with a bag full of experience. Tom Varndell is probably the fastest player in the league and is a player we have admired for a long time. We want to help him try to get back into the England reckoning, something we at Wasps have a proven track record in as we continue to develop our players to the highest level. Dan Ward-Smith is an athletic ball carrying back row forward who was knocking on the England door two seasons ago and may well be an England talent for the future."
Lawrence Dallaglio, appointed to the Board of Directors this season, working alongside Executive Chairman Mark Rigby on player recruitment, added, "Our ambitions to continue to strive for excellence as a Club are again reiterated with three very talented players joining our ranks next season. Adding great strength, depth and power to our existing squad list, all three players compliment the great names already in Wasps midst and we are very excited as we see our squad take shape for 2009/10 and beyond.
"As a collective, this trio of talent, have all been recognised on the international circuit; Steve Kefu an Australian test centre and Tom Varndell and Dan Ward-Smith both picking up time in the England set up. No doubt Varndell and Ward-Smith are players who, like many before them, will benefit from Wasps' fantastic set up and will be able to fulfill their international potential in the future whilst striving for honours on the domestic stage.
"All three players are fantastic Club men and I have no doubt that their great rugby ability will be complimented by a great mentality and ethos which will see them become core components of the Wasps family. We look forward to them joining us this summer."[/b]
