Wasps have confirmed that Martin Gleeson will join the club from rugby league side Salford Red Devils for the 2019/20 season. 

Gleeson will join the side as the assistant attack coach, leaving the Red Devils after five years as their assistant coach.

Only last week Harlequins announced that Sean Long will join their backroom staff from rugby league side St Helens, with Gleeson’s move now perhaps showing a shift in the game.

The former rugby league player is delighted to be joining Wasps and is thankful for what Salford have provided him with.

“I’m thrilled to be making the move to Rugby Union and to be joining a team of Wasps’ calibre. I’ve had a fantastic time with Salford, but I feel now is the right time for a new challenge. Premiership Rugby is one of the most competitive leagues in Rugby Union so this is certainly a challenge I’m relishing, and I can’t wait to meet the team,” he said.

The 39-year-old will join-up with Attack and Backs coach Lee Blackett and is also being brought in to help develop the wider team and achieve their goals.

Wasps director of rugby Dai Young noted that he wants to expand his current coaching staff and is happy that Gleeson could become part of it.

“We have operated with a smaller coaching team than most Premiership clubs for a while now. The plan was always to bolster it and I’m pleased to have found Martin, who is an exciting young coach. I believe he can really add to what we are trying to build here at Wasps. Martin has forged a very strong reputation as a quality coach within Rugby League, having made a big impact with Salford,” he said.

As well as Young and Blackett, Wasps have defence coach Ian Costello and forwards coach Andy Titterrell, however Young believes the attacking side of things is more than a one-man job.

“Our current coaches have done an excellent job. I’m really pleased with how they have developed in their first Premiership coaching roles, and with Martin coming on board I am really pleased with how our set-up is looking ahead of the new season. Our attack has been a strong part of our game and we have been one of the top try-scoring teams in the Premiership for a number of seasons. Lee has done a great job for us, but I now feel that attack is more than a one-man job. We took a step back last season from where we would have liked to have been. Between the two of them, I believe they will complement each other and get our attack back to where we want it to be,” he added.

As well as the new coaches Wasps have added a host of players to their squad and are looking like a side to watch out for next season.

Warriors Director of Rugby Alan Solomons has committed himself to the club until the end of the 2021/22 season.

Solomons’ existing contract expires at the end of next season but he has now signed a two-year extension.

“Jason Whittingham and I both think Alan has done a great job of managing the team and rugby department since starting at Warriors,” said Warriors co-owner Colin Goldring.

“We both support his vision and plan to achieve a sustainable top flight team with the Three Pears Warriors Academy at its core, supported by top-class talented and experienced players.

“We are delighted that Alan has signed his contract extension which ensures continuity and stability.”

Solomons joined Warriors in October 2017, initially as a consultant, and was appointed Director of Rugby two months later.

Solomons helped Warriors secure their Gallagher Premiership status in his first season in charge and to a record-equalling nine Premiership wins, a place in the European Challenge Cup quarter-finals and the Premiership Rugby Cup semi-finals this season.

“I am honoured to be afforded the privilege of being part of Warriors’ continuing journey and look forward to working with Colin and Jason and all concerned to realise our vision for the club,” Solomons said.

Solomons, a former lawyer, was Head Coach of Western Province and The Stormers Super Rugby team and took the Stormers to their first-ever home semi-final in 1999. He was also part of South Africa’s coaching team that guided the Springboks to a record-equalling 17 consecutive Test wins and finished third in the 1999 Rugby World Cup.

During Solomon’s time in charge of Ulster Rugby they won the Celtic Cup in 2003 and in the same year were runners up in the Celtic League. He was voted Northern Ireland Coach/Manager of the Year in 2003.

Solomons was then High Performance Consultant for the International Rugby Board from 2007 to 2010 and in 2009 coached the Southern Kings in their debut match against the British and Irish Lions.

He coached the Eastern Province Kings to three successive Division One finals, lifting the trophy in 2010 and 2012 before taking the Southern Kings into Super Rugby in 2013.

Solomons then coached Edinburgh,taking them to a first ever European Challenge Cup final and winning back-to-back 1872 Cups against Glasgow.

Solomons has also been Director of Rugby of USA Eagles and coached Northampton Saints and the Barbarians.

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Diageo, the parent company of Guinness have terminated their long-standing sponsorship deal with London Irish. The deal has been in place for 30 years but was officially terminated yesterday due to London Irish’s decision to sign former Irish International Paddy Jackson who was cleared of rape last year.

Guinness are the second sponsor to cut ties with the Exiles after Cash Converters ended their association last month.

London Irish have since come out to state that Cash Converters terminated their deal prior to the announcement of Jackson’s signing.

Diageo, who own Guinness, had recently extended the partnership with the club in 2016, calling it a ‘very special’ relationship.

Jackson’s signing has since prompted them to reassess the deal and a statement yesterday read;

‘(Irish’s) recent decision is not consistent with our values and so we have ended our sponsorship,’

London Irish released a statement in response to the news yesterday.

‘The club has always respected the right for everyone to have an opinion, and their right to express that opinion, It is regretful that this relationship has ended in the manner that it has.’

There has been a mixed reaction on social media to the news.

@Diageo_News your a disgrace for withdrawing your sponsorship of london irish due to paddy jackson

— POTR (@POTR33807691) June 13, 2019

@BreakfastNT Diageo took the right decision re Paddy Jackson. Ulster rugby and IRFU were pressurized by their sponsors who didn’t want their brands being tarnished by association.

— Eamon Donovan (@eamondonovan) June 14, 2019

It would have been a better decision by Diagio to stick with London Irish and have Paddy Jackson do a campaign on misogynistic behaviour/lad culture/drinking etc., to show others how doing these things can completely ruin your life.

— Jeremy Kearney (@jeremykearney) June 14, 2019

It’s a disgraceful and undemocratic decision, very like brexit where remainers are refusing to accept a democratic people’s decision in a referendum, Paddy Jackson was AQUITTED in his rape trial, but some horrible people are refusing to accept an exhaustive court finding in that

— Philip Murrell (@FelipeMurrelli) June 13, 2019