London Wasps v London Welsh - friendly neighbours Sunday 28/10/2012 KO 3pm

From Wasps Official site -

London Wasps and London Welsh have enjoyed a healthy relationship off the pitch for many years. We look at the history between the Clubs before their first ever league meeting in Sunday’s Aviva Premiership clash at Adams Park (KO 15.00)

The two clubs have established close links over the last few years, as befits two sides whose training grounds are only about three miles apart - but it has taken over 100 years of history to establish those links.
Welsh were founded in 1885; 18 years after Wasps. During the amateur era, both were among the cluster of senior clubs based in the London area who enjoyed a regular and friendly, but keenly-contested, rivalry. In this period Welsh were one of the glamour sides reaching their zenith in the late ‘60s and early ‘70s, under the inspiring captaincy of John Dawes.
However by the time the first leagues were formed in 1987/8, Welsh had slipped from the top level of English club rugby and while the Wasps sting began to gather more venom, the Welsh dragon began to lose its roar, and the Exiles soon slipped to the obscurity of league rugby several levels down from the top tier – Wasps and Welsh were, quite literally, leagues apart.
Gradually, the sleeping dragon began to stir, and the famous old club began to find its way back towards the top and it was once they were back in the Championship that the closer links with Wasps were set up.
London Welsh has provided an ideal place for young Wasps players to develop, through dual registration – amongst them Hugo Ellis and, more recently, Nathan Morris. Meanwhile, Welsh provided the Wasps A team with a steady stream of players – England prop Paul Doran-Jones made some telling appearances for the Wasps second string in one of its championship-winning campaigns.
A series of former Wasps players have moved on to London Welsh after taking off the Black and Gold colours. The first of the professional era was Florent Rossigneux and soon after Rossigneux came a flying winger, who was to establish himself as one of the most outstanding players in the recent history of London Wasps - Paul Sampson.
Other former Wasps who followed him to Welsh included Ben Gotting, Tom French and Edd Thrower.
It was two former Wasps who finally helped turn London Welsh from a solid Championship side to a real promotion contender. Phil Greening and Mike Friday were the Welsh coaches when they reached the 2011 play-off semi-finals, where they lost to Cornish Pirates (coached by another ex-Wasp, Harvey Biljon!).
Sunday’s game itself is something of a homecoming for several London Welsh players and coaches.
Included in the Welsh coaching team is Simon Amor, who is in charge of the London Welsh scrum-halves. A sevens specialist, Amor spent two seasons at Wasps, and his experience and expertise helped them win the Middlesex Sevens in 2006 – their first title since 1993.
One of the most recognisable members of that triumphant Gatland squad was lock Martin Purdy. He spent seven years with Wasp s and played a big role in the triumphant Heineken Cup campaign of 2003/4.
Alongside him in the second row is another former Wasp, Matt Corker. Matt was named Wasps Young Player of the Year in his first season, 2005/6, when he also made his first team debut. He was a regular in the championship-winning 2006/7 A team, which also beat the first team in a warm-up match, ahead of the 2007 Heineken Cup final.
More recent Wasps in the Welsh line-up include Ryan Davis and Seb Jewell and London Wasps A team regulars will recognise the muscular frame of winger Joe Ajuwa, who has made a number of appearances for the Wasps second team.
In addition to those players, young Wasps prop Lewis Thiede and Jonah Holmes were both on loan to Welsh recently.
As we all know, Welsh finally made it to the top tier last season. While that decision means that the links between Wasps and Welsh cannot be as close or cosy as they have been in recent years, the Clubs will remain close friends and neighbours.

I've been down to ODP to watch Welsh on a few occasions in recent years because of the links between the clubs.

Mind you, I think Wasps might have more Welshmen involved next weekend.

Hound_of_Harrow wrote:

I've been down to ODP to watch Welsh on a few occasions in recent years because of the links between the clubs.

Mind you, I think Wasps might have more Welshmen involved next weekend.

I keep reminding my welsh mate of that fact (of which he is very well aware) but he is intent on supporting the 'Orange One' & his side.

Today London Wasps host London Welsh at Adams Park in the first ever league meeting between the neighbouring sides.


Dai Young has named an exciting side to take to the field for the fixture, with nine changes to the starting side from last weekend.
In the backline, Joe Simpson starts at scrum half after being rested last weekend, with Nick Robinson outside him at 10. Lee Thomas and Andrea Masi get the nod in the centres, Tom Varndell and Christian Wade start on the wings, with Captain Hugo Southwell at fullback.
The front row has a familiar feel, with Tim Payne at Loosehead, Tom Lindsay starting at Hooker and Zak Taulafo at Tighthead. Vice-Captain Marco Wentzel returns to the second row after his rest last weekend, where he is joined by Joe Launchbury. Billy Vunipola also returns to this weekend’s team, starting at 8, where he is joined in the back row by Ashley Johnson at 6 and James Haskell at 7.
Young said that this weekend’s fixture at Adams Park is a chance for his team to kick on after three wins on the bounce.
“It is well-known that your home games are vitally important in this league and this weekend is no different. We are coming into this game on the back of three wins, albeit two in a different competition, and this is a chance for us to build further on that.”
London Wasps team to play London Welsh at Adams Park this Sunday 28 October, KO 3pm.
15. Hugo Southwell
14. Tom Varndell
13. Andrea Masi
12. Lee Thomas
11. Christian Wade
10. Nick Robinson
9. Joe Simpson
1. Tim Payne
2. Tom Lindsay
3. Zak Taulafo
4. Joe Launchbury
5. Marco Wentzel
6. Ashley Johnson
7. James Haskell
8. Billy Vunipola
Replacements
16. T Rhys Thomas
17. Phil Swainston
18. Fabio Staibano
19. James Cannon
20. Jonathan Poff
21. Charlie Davies
22. Tommy Bell
23. Elliot Daly

London Welsh
15. Tom Voyce
14. Phil MacKenzie
13. Sonny Parker
12. Seb Jewell
11. Nick Scott
10. Gavin Henson
9. Tyson Keats
1. Franck Montanella
2. Neil Briggs
3. Paulica Ion
4. Martin Purdy
5. Matt Corker
6. Jonathan Mills
7. Michael Hills
8. Ed Jackson

Replacements
16. Dan George
17. Tom Bristow
18. Arthur Joly
19. Kirill Kulemin
20. Alfie To’oala
21. Nick Runciman
22. James Lewis
23. Joe Ajuwa.


Imposing back row there for Wasps. Only Stephen Jones & Palmer missing from the side. Would like to see a strong showing from Tom Lindsay given potential injury to Hartley & Tom Youngs wayward throwing yesterday. Together with Joe Launchbury & injury to Courtney Lawes.
COYWs.