Ex-Wasps out-half Haydon-Wood makes switch to France his next move

Former Wasps out-half Will Haydon-Wood has secured his short-term future, putting his October 17 redundancy behind him with a deal to play in France until the end of the current season. The recently-turned 22-year-old was one of the 167 players and staff left without work when the Coventry-based Gallagher Premiership club financially collapsed.

It has resulted in Lee Blackett’s Wasps squad scattering to the four winds and while a number of players have secured contracts in the French Top 14, Haydon-Wood has opted to try his luck in Pro D2 with Massy, the club that is struggling at the bottom of the 16-team table with just three wins in eleven outings.

A statement read: “RC Massy Essonne announce the arrival of Will Haydon-Wood. This out-half (1.78, 85kg) had previously played for Wasps and was selected for the English U20s. After starting it with Wasps, Haydon-Wood will finish the season at Massy.”

The time spent by Haydon-Wood at Wasps was only fleeting as he joined them in the summer and his sole Premiership appearance came off the bench in the closing stages of their final match before their collapse, the home game in Coventry versus Northampton.

Having played age-grade with England, Haydon-Wood made his big breakthrough last season when making 17 Premiership appearances for Newcastle, nine as a starter in the Falcons side.

His profile on the Wasps website read: “The England U20 international oozes speed, class and flare. We are excited to see what he is capable of in a Wasps shirt.” That grand hope went unfulfilled, though, as his Wasps stay ended less than two months into the 2022/23 season.