Guinness Premiership : Ibanez launches his captaincy on home soil

Ibanez launches his captaincy on home soil

14 August 2008, 2:25 pm

By Roland Mercer

Raphael Ibanez will return to his home town tonight for London Wasps pre-season friendly opener against Dax.

The game which kicks off at 9.30pm (local time) at the Stade Maurice Boyau, marks Ibanez’s first run out as club captain following his appointment earlier this month.

Director of Rugby, Ian McGeechan, has named a mixture of youth and experience for Wasps first pre-season fixture, fielding all of his new summer signings along with talents from the Academy and some of the squads more experienced names including Richard Birkett, John Hart, Mark Van Gisbergen and Tom Voyce.

For Voyce, tonight’s game marks a return to action following a summer of rehabilitation after dislocating his left shoulder in the Guinness Premiership Semi Final against Bath.

Named in the starting line up, new arrivals Lachlan Mitchell, Mark Robinson and Serge Betsen will make their debuts for the club, running out alongside Wasps Academy graduate Hugo Ellis and 2008/09 signing Jeremy Staunton.

Henry Barratt, who also joins the senior squad this season, takes his place on the eight man bench, as do Munster hooker, Michael Varley and ex New Zealand colt, Michael Kedgley currently on loan to the club.

Assistant Coach Leon Holden said, “Tonight’s fixture provides our players with a great opportunity to stake their claim on the season.

“The young side showcases many of our bright talents but also sees some of our more experienced players return to the pitch. This should prove to be a competitive fixture which will give our pre-season preparations further momentum as we look to the start of the season.”

London Wasps team to face Dax tonight, Thursday 14th August, KO 9.30PM (local time):

15. Mark Van Gisbergen
14. Chris Bishay
13. Lachlan Mitchell
12. Rob Hoadley
11. Tom Voyce
10. Jeremy Staunton
9. Mark Robinson
1. Tom French
2. Raphael Ibanez (C)
3. Pat Barnard
4. Matt Corker
5. Richard Birkett
6. Hugo Ellis
7. Serge Betsen
8. John Hart

16. Rob Webber
17. Damien Varley
18. Michael Holford
19. Michael Kedgley
20. James Honeyben
21. Joe Simpson
22. Henry Barratt
23. Mark Odejobi