Wasps coach joins Paul Gustard at Benetton
Wasps academy coach Andrea Masi has left the Coventry club with immediate effect to join Paul Gustard at Benetton.
Masi, who won 95 caps for Italy and represented the Azzurri in 13 Six Nations Championships and four Rugby World Cups, retired from playing with Wasps in 2016, but returned to the club as an academy coach in 2017.
During his four years with Wasps as a player, Masi was voted 2012/13 Supporters’ Player of the Season. He was forced into retirement aged 35 due to an Achilles injury sustained in the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
Masi was the youngest man to play for Italy when he made his debut as an 18-year-old in 1999. He has used his vast playing experience to guide Wasps’ young players for the last four years through the transition process, as they embark on a career in professional rugby.
Masi grateful for Wasps opportunity
Masi said: “I would like to thank Wasps for the opportunities they have given me to start my coaching career, after enjoying my time with the club as a player.
“I have been lucky to play alongside some incredibly talented players, but also learn from all the great coaches I’ve had the pleasure to meet during my time at the club, and more importantly, I’ve made some lifelong friends.
“To Dai Young, who signed me back in 2012, thank you for believing in me.
“Thanks to Kevin Harman for giving me the opportunity to join the Academy in 2017 and to Jon Pendlebury for supporting my coaching development at the beginning of this journey.
“Thank you to all the coaches and staff at the club who made me a better player, coach, and person.
“Thanks to my wife and my kids for the love and support.
“I wish everyone at the club and the Academy continued success over the coming years.”
Warrior’s attitude
Head of Recruitment and Academy Kevin Harman added: “Over the last four years, since joining the Wasps Academy coaching staff, Andrea has shown all the qualities he had as a player – an unbelievable work rate, a huge amount of skill, ability and a total warrior’s attitude in everything he puts his energies into.
“These attributes have transferred to the players he has coached. He has been a huge part of the success of the Academy over the past few years, therefore it is not by coincidence that there are more home-grown academy players in the current first team than ever before.
“We will all miss him, but we will be watching from afar in anticipation as to what heights his coaching takes him. Treviso are lucky to not only have employed such an excellent coach, but an even better man.
“On behalf of the Wasps family, we wish Andrea, Consuela, Adele and Nicolò all the very best for the future. #onceawaspalwaysawasp has never been more pertinent.”