Ibañez ready for another season
Newcastle and Wasps have handed one-year contract extensions to Mathew Tait and Raphaël Ibañez respectively.
Newcastle and Wasps have handed one-year contract extensions to Mathew Tait and Raphaël Ibañez respectively.
Ibañez's extension will see him remain at Adams Park until the end of the 2009 season, as well as taking on coaching responsibilities as forwards coach for the Wasps Academy.
“I still want some action as a player,” said Ibañez.
“I'm very pleased to be staying at Wasps for another year, I still have the fire for competition on the pitch and I believe I can continue to be effective as a player. I'm also very excited about the opportunity I have next season to get involved with the Wasps Academy and do a bit of coaching.”
Meanwhile England international Mathew Tait has signed a new contract extension with Newcastle, keeping him at Kingston Park for a further year.
The 22-year-old has signed a new one-year contract and is looking forward to another year under director of rugby John Fletcher.
“It is always a big decision when contracts come up for renewal, but I'm delighted to have agreed a new deal and look forward to helping the Falcons fulfil their ambitions,” said Tait, who has 20 England caps to his name.
“Newcastle is a fantastic club with a massive amount of quality, and under John Fletcher there are exciting times ahead.
“We play a fast brand of attacking rugby, and as a player it's great fun to be part of as well as being a very challenging style of play. It is a great environment to be in with a focus on learning and improving every single day in training, and that was a major factor in my decision.”
Fletcher himself was happy to secure Tait's signature with a number of other clubs looking to lure him away from Newcastle.
“Mathew is among the most gifted young players in the world, and the fact that he sees his future at Newcastle Falcons is further endorsement of what we are doing here and the level of ambition currently at the club,” said Fletcher.
“It is no secret that a number of other top teams were keen on signing Mathew, but he is a vital part of our jigsaw and is fully buying in to what we are doing here at the moment.”
Elsewhere Leeds have been given a massive boost ahead of their trip to Leicester this Saturday with the news that back rower Adam Balding has extended his loan stay with the club until the end of the season.
Balding, who moved to Headingley on loan in December from Gloucester, will now remain in Yorkshire until the end of the season although the terms of the arrangement mean that he will be unable to play against Gloucester when the two teams meet on the 19th April at Kingsholm.