Palmer returning to the Premiership

Sorry if this has been done elsewhere but couldn't see it. Just read that Tom Palmer will return to Wasps for next season after 3 years playing in France.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/17018010

A bit surprised that anyone would want to sign for Wasps at present, what with the ground and ownership issues. Good signing I guess, played better at the weekend than against Scotland although looks a bit unfit to me at the moment, not sure he could last a full 80 minutes for England.

Wasps still seem to have money - I guess keeping the squad competitive will make it easier to sell the club. A good signing for Wasps.

Wasps are looking pretty good for next year they just have to survive this one! With Cipriani and Haskell probably returning as well that'll be a pretty good squad.

Don't know about Cipriani but Haskell is definitely returning. They desperately need some front row re-inforcement though Dai Young's coaching is helping in that department.

Wasps next year:

Payne, Lindsay, Broster
Palmer, Wentzel
Rees, Poff
Haskell
Simpson/Berry, Robinson
Flutey, Daly/Waldouck
Wade, Varndell
Southwell

Erm - I actually think this is a bad signing.

He will be 33 when he joins. I would imagine England will eventually phase him out of the National scene which should make him available more for Wasps.

Sadly though the Statistics point to the fact he will be lucky if he is available for half the matches. Then there is the added fact that he's on the way downhill.

Wasps should be building a team for the future. The squad above wont be winning any domestic throphies let alone any European throphies.
So why keep them? Personally I would have let some other club foot the bill.

formerly known as Sam wrote:Don't know about Cipriani but Haskell is definitely returning. They desperately need some front row re-inforcement though Dai Young's coaching is helping in that department.

Wasps next year:

Payne, Lindsay, Broster
Palmer, Wentzel
Rees, Poff
Haskell
Simpson/Berry, Robinson
Flutey, Daly/Waldouck
Wade, Varndell
Southwell

Thats an interesting side actually Sam....though ill be amazed at the highlighted one...

Welshmushroom, Wasps have a plethora of young talent on the verge of making the first team but are struggling to find experienced players to give these youngsters a solid base to work from. Palmer is a better second row than some of the average locks Wasps have been using and will be able to help bring through the likes of Launchbury into the side.

Sadly Geordie I think you will be right, Rees will retire sooner rather than later as his body just can't take the rigours of professional rugby.

formerly known as Sam wrote:Welshmushroom, Wasps have a plethora of young talent on the verge of making the first team but are struggling to find experienced players to give these youngsters a solid base to work from. Palmer is a better second row than some of the average locks Wasps have been using and will be able to help bring through the likes of Launchbury into the side.

Sadly Geordie I think you will be right, Rees will retire sooner rather than later as his body just can't take the rigours of professional rugby.

Ironically...i think the same could be said for the England team aswell....has Englands decline coincided with Wasps??

Yet everything looked so bright ahead of the RWC warm up games last year Geordie. The Saxons had romped to victory in the Churchill Cup, England had won the 6N with some excellent attacking rugby and other than the game vs Ireland had done nothing to blot their copy book. Two of our most exciting players in years were mates after a small AP Semi Final punch up. We were building a good team. Fast forward 9 months and we are a wreck, injuries and a new defensive style of play have seen us sneak through two games because of charge downs. No facet of the game is going well and we are heading for a drubbing against the Welsh. The two exciting players are injured/out of form.

Meanwhile Wasps in this time have been consistently cack with a brief blip of hope for their fans at the start of the season when they recorded narrow victories over both Tigers and Sarries.

Injuries haven't exactly helped Wasps

It will be good to see TP back - Wasps line out fell apart after he left, until we signed Wentzel. They'll be a good locking pair. However, I reckon he won't be arriving if we don't survive in the Prem.

Rees should be returning very soon, but I agree that he is likely to break down again given the way he plays. The best 7 in England since Backy retired, but a shame he is so injury prone.

Having Launchberry fit again will also be a big boost. He has the potential to be an outstanding player.