The news that Steve Thompson has agreed to sign for Aviva Premiership side Wasps will come as a real big blow to relegation-strugglers Leeds Carnegie.
The World Cup winner, who has 66 international caps, will leave Leeds at the end of the season to pursue a career in London after only spending one season at Headingley.
The news will come as a disappointment to Neil Back after he brought the former British and Irish Lions hooker back to English rugby following his brief and disappointing spell in France with Brive.
Leeds will feel hard done by that Thompson has decided to leave after the club used big money to make the move possible with wages the main expense. With the club struggling down the bottom of the table, Thompson has decided to move on at the first opportunity to ensure he is still playing top-flight rugby as his career starts to come to an end.
His new lease of life in English rugby comes as a major surprise to sports betting pundits after he had initially retired from the game in 2007 due to a neck injury. Rumours circulated that Brive tempted him out of the wilderness due to the large wages offered and that his move to Leeds followed the same approach.
Back had hoped Thompson’s experience would benefit the squad and see them progress after last season’s successful campaign where they avoided relegation. It was a major development at Leeds and a big name such as Thompson was a major coup for the club but things just haven’t worked out.
Maybe Thompson’s move to West Yorkshire was always going to be brief. Many things will have come into Thompson’s mind when choosing to leave Headingley. Those placing regular sports bets will note that the chance to play in a confident side rather than a struggling outfit may have twisted his arm.
The length of contract will have had a major impact as Wasps offered a more re-assuring three-year deal which gives Thompson stability and a club for the foreseeable future. The reassurance that Wasps will definitely be playing Premiership rugby next season will also have had an impact.
Leeds’ loss is definitely Wasps’ gain and his experience will certainly educate the youngsters at the club which will be worth the money in the long run.