Wasps appoint Dai Young as director of rugby

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Wasps have appointed Dai Young as their new director of rugby, the club announced today.

Young joins from Welsh region Cardiff Blues and replaces Tony Hanks, who presided over Wasps' decline as a force in the Aviva Premiership.

The 43-year-old former Wales and Lions prop won the Amlin Challenge Cup and EDF Energy Cup and reached the semi-finals of the Heineken during his nine-year reign at the Blues.

"This is an enormous opportunity for me. I loved my time at Cardiff but I'm looking forward to a new experience in a new environment," said Young.

"There is a hugely talented group of players here to work with and the challenge to help a great club into a position where they are once again challenging for success was too good to turn down."

Young won 51 caps for Wales, was selected for three Lions tours and has led the Barbarians as head coach of the European tours for the past four years.

Wasps chief executive Chris Thomas hopes that he will be able to spark a revival in the club's fortunes.

"We believe Dai is exactly the right person to take the club forward," Thomas said.

"Dai brings a wealth of experience to the club and this is an appointment for the long term.

"We remain an ambitious club and want to be competing at the highest level. Dai is the person to help us achieve these ambitions."

Storm clouds are gathering on the horizon, however, as Young's appointment has placed Wasps on a collision course with the Blues that could end up in the law courts.

Young, who resigned this morning, had a year remaining on his contract and the Blues are demanding compensation believed to be in the region of £100,000.

Blues chairman Peter Thomas has threatened legal action against Wasps and Young, who was unveiled at the club's west London training ground this afternoon, if their claims are ignored.

Wasps have yet to offer any compensation and Chris Thomas insists employment law indicates they are not obliged to do so.

"Our position is that we haven't done anything to entice Dai away from Cardiff," Chris Thomas told Press Association Sport.

"It was his decision to resign and accept a position here. He wanted to come.

"We've talked to Cardiff about the situation and kept them informed, and they've taken their stance.

"We don't believe we've done anything improper as a club to entice Dai to us.

"We'll continue to talk to them but at the moment we're happy with our position.

"It's a difficult situation. It's different to a player where you have a player's registration.

"With a coach you're in no different type of employment contract to anyone else.

"To pay compensation in this situation....there's no precedent in employment law to say we have to do that.

"It's no different to anyone moving between different companies.

"It's difficult to say where Cardiff have got this figure from. We don't believe there's any compensation payable in this situation."

Thomas insists Wasps will fight their case in court if necessary.

"We don't believe we've done anything improper and it's their decision if they want to pursue that course," he said.