1
Stephen Vaughan hoping to do a Gloucester at Wasps
By Online Editors
Stephen Vaughan has joined Wasps Group as chief executive (sports) after seven years spearheading Gloucester rugby. He will be tasked with developing Wasps rugby and Wasps netball brands and lead the club’s corporate and commercial teams.
During a seven-year spell at Kingsholm, Vaughan led a long-term transformation which culminated in Gloucester achieving its first play-off finish for eight years last season.
Stuart Cain becomes chief executive (venue) and is leading the venue management side of the business. He joined Wasps two years ago from the NEC Group where as managing director he led the commercialisation of venues including the NEC, ICC, Genting Arena and Arena Birmingham.
Nick Eastwood steps into a deputy chairman role as part of the changes. Eastwood said: “Stephen has an impressive track record of delivering results wherever he has been, so we are really excited to have him on board.
“He was the main architect of Gloucester’s recent success and he will be a great asset for us moving forward. Stephen’s role is focused away from the pitch but he will be supporting Dai Young where needed, as well as harnessing and forging new relationships with current and potential club partners.”
Vaughan, who held senior management positions with travel giant Thomas Cook including a leading role at London 2012, revealed his excitement at the challenge ahead. He added: “The opportunity to come and work for such a household name in the rugby world was too good to turn down.
“Given the tradition of the Wasps brand and the first-class facilities that it has at Ricoh Arena, there is so much potential here and I can’t wait to get started on helping Wasps go from strength to strength.”
Cain added: “Wasps is much more than a rugby and netball club. Ricoh Arena is a leading conference, exhibition and concert venue in its own right.
“It makes absolute sense to focus on the two key drivers of future success – a winning, well-supported sports operation and a venue that brings people to the region seven days a week, day and night.”
WATCH: The Rugby Pod react to the recently announced England World Cup squad
Trending on RugbyPass
2
All Blacks XV player ratings vs Munster
3
Suaalii strikes awe as Wallabies lose midfielder
4
Scott Robertson responds about handling errors
5
Latest Comments
My ‘fantasy’ team V Ireland,
Including options from ABXV if needed, as V Mun better V Ireland better prep than England.
The most important aspect V Ireland is AB need ALL their loosies AND 'loosie capable locks' on ALL match [except IF(?) any tiring ie the aging & slowing eg Cane]. As follows,
{starting} bench (3rd choice)
1 {De Groot} / Tu’ungafasi (Williams)
2 { anyone that can throw!! }/ Aumua (Brodie McAlister)
Ryan! coach lineouts & Aumua to throw!
3 {Lomax}/ Tosi (Newell )
Tosi immense strength V England
4,5 Locks { P.Tuipulotu, S.Barrett }, Vaa’i, Darry
( Isaia Walker-Leawere)
Vaa’i off V Eng. Assumed due to leg injury(?)
6,7,8 Loose forwards { Sititi, A.Savea, Cane } Vaa’i, S.Barrettm, P.Tuipulotu back up (Devan Flanders, Du'Plessis Kirifi )
9 {Roigard } Ratima ( TJ )
10 {D.McK} Perofeta ( Plummer)
12 {J.Barrett } ALB ( Q.Tupaea )
13 {Proctor} Ioane ( AJ Lam )
Ioane (off V England ) but Irish experience (NO not Sexton!)
14 { Tele’a} Reece (bkup W.Jordan )
11 {C.Clarke} Narawa (K.Naholo)
15 {W.Jordan} Love (Stevenson)
Go to commentsI guess the other option would be to start ALB, he's looked good in the 12 so far when he starts and sets up those outside him. But that would mean putting the vice captain on the bench, which is unlikely. Another option would be to drop Reiko to the bench and play Proctor, though he's gone home so that's not going to happen either.
Both of those players just offer more of the soft distribution skills good centres learn from playing their careers there. Unfortunately that's what's lacking with the current combo.
Go to comments