Steve Thompson signs three-year deal with Wasps as Leeds try to avoid relegation
English and Leeds Carnegie hooker, Steve Thompson, will join the London Wasps at the end of the ongoing domestic and European season. The anouncment was made on May 2nd through a press release.
While a few would doubt him being the best hooker England has produced, none would disagree with him being the biggest. London Wasps will be the third rugby club he will join after coming back from retirement.
Steve Thompson announced retirement from rugby after he sustained a career ending neck injury. Thompson received the devastating blow during the Heineken Cup pool match played between Northampton Saints and Biarritz, at Franklins
Gardens in January 2007. Three months later, he announced the retirement from the game.
Thompson earlier started his professional rugby career after joining the Saints in 1998. He remained with them for nine years and has appeared 195 times for them. During his stay at Saints, he was selected in England’s National Rugby
Team and later in British and Irish Lions team.
Steve Thompson made 66 appearances for England as scored 15 points. He made his debut for England during their 2001 tour to North America. His initial noticeable performances came during the England’s tour to Australia and South
Africa in 2003.
Steven Thompson was part of the English outfit that lifted the Rugby World Cup crown in 2003. He enjoyed a good season during the 2004 however lost his form during the 2005 season including a poor run during the 2005 Six Nations tournament.
After his retirement from the game, he worked as “recruitment and technique adviser” for CA Brive Correze Limousin. However, he returned from the retirement after recovering from the injury and played for Brive in Top 14. During
May 2010, Thompson signed a two-year deal with Leeds Carnegie. However, Leeds poor performance is during the current season is widely believed to be the reason for his switch.
Steve Thompson has signed a three-year deal with the London Wasps and will represent the Leeds Carnegie for the last time, as they will play against the Northampton to save their possible relegation from the Premiership.
Thompson made a return to the international arena in 2009 as he took the field against the Barbarians and Argentina. He has been an important part of the regular English rugby side since then.
Steve Thompson is likely to be the part of the England’s Rugby World Cup 2011 campaign, particularly after his impressive performance against Ireland during the 2011 Six Nations.
Tags: