Ulster Rugby v London Wasps

Few campaigns have begun with such bewildering and beguiling changes afoot, and now that the action takes priority it’s an evening to come to terms with the new competitive landscape. ULSTER IS ALREADY BUZZING

As a glamorous Ulster curtain-raiser to what we will eventually and more easily call the Guinness PRO14 campaign, one of the great names in English rugby provides the opposition at Kingspan Stadium. A rich history is littered with Premiership titles, domestic trophies galore and, of course, a period of domination in Europe. Players from all parts of the world who have written themselves into rugby lore have pulled on that famous gold and black jersey, and that tradition continues as the club enters its 150th anniversary season. Formed in the Eton and Middlesex Tavern in north London in 1867 – before the creation of the Rugby Football Union – Wasps is proud of its humble beginnings and of its contribution to the game and of its constant quest for success on the pitch and for reaching ambitious goals off the field. Typical of the club’s resilience has been its emergence in the last decade from a period of deep uncertainty about its future. Wasps has always been something of an itinerant and yet maintained a loyal fan base, winning leagues and cups even when without a permanent home, only to suffer a severe decline in fortunes, playing and financial. Lawrence Dallaglio was one of the celebrated former players asked to ‘front’ a totally restructured Wasps and with wise and wealthy counsel in the boardroom the huge decision was taken two years ago to relocate – out of the capital with which it was so associated – to Coventry. Wasps’ reputation for employing adventurous tactics on the pitch was mirrored in a bold decision in 2014 to buy the established and modern Ricoh Arena, and the result? Packed houses, renewed confidence in management and in the dressing room, last season’s narrow defeat to Exeter in the Aviva Premiership Final testament to just how far the club has travelled and with such driven focus. The nomadic existence has ended and Director of Rugby Dai Young has guided his squad right back to the pinnacle of the English game while others provided the foundations for another long period of playing success.

With players such as the astonishingly-gifted Danny Cipriani, Elliot Daly, Kyle Eastmond, Christian Wade, Jimmy Gopperth, Joe Simpson, Marty Moore, James Haskell, Nathan Hughes and an inspirational skipper in Joe Launchbury Wasps is set to mount a challenge on all fronts this season. Nothing less is expected of a lean and superbly- run club and the players all realise that their reputations count for nothing as the Premiership ‘opener’ against Sale awaits, the owners, management and supporters expecting last season’s thrilling campaign to be but a mere stroll in the foothills as the summit of domestic and European rugby beckons. Warren Gatland gave the club riches in terms of trophies before his switch to guide Wales and the Lions, and now Young – with his superb playing and coaching pedigree – has the launchpad to match or exceed those glory days. It is hard to argue with a side with such a formidable pool of forwards and an array of backs which, unsurprisingly, set new records last year in England for tries and points scored. But argue with it – at least tonight in sporting terms! – will Ulster, making its debut appearance at home under the new management team of Head Coach Jono Gibbes and his assistants Dwayne Peel and Aaron Dundon and with Director of Rugby Les Kiss at the helm, they will be determined to see tangible reward from a season which once again begins with justifiably high expectations from a steadfast Kingspan crowd. Gibbes’ CV is outstanding, and the former All Black flanker-come-lock arrives from Clermont Auvergne, having previously made an outstanding impression in the same role, of forwards coach, at Leinster under Joe Schmidt. For Peel, ‘capped’ no fewer than 76 times at scrum-half by Wales, the chance to concentrate on the Ulster backline is a golden opportunity to work with some of the most gifted players in Europe. Charles Piutau, Jared Payne, Luke Marshall, Stuart McCloskey, Andrew Trimble, Craig Gilroy, Tommy Bowe and Jacob Stockdale - the fourth Irish international winger ‘on the books’ - are

ROD NAWN

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