Wasps look to wrap up Abbott deal
September 5, 2001

Stuart Abbott, the highly-rated 23-years-old Cape Stormers centre, confirmed his interest in joining London Wasps with a call to Nigel Melville as soon as he arrived home in South Africa.

"It was quite literally a flying visit he made at the weekend," said Melville.

"Stuart arrived at Heathrow on Saturday, had a look at the training facilities and came to the game at Loftus Road the following afternoon. Then he flew back to Cape Town on Sunday night.

"He wanted to make sure he was joining the right outfit, and I don't blame him, but now we hear he's very keen to join us and it looks like that will happen next month, as soon as he has finished playing with Western Province in the Currie Cup."

Two years ago the English-born centre "guested" for Leicester when their squad was depleted by various international calls during the 1999 World Cup, and he played in two Premiership matches for the Tigers.

He was watched by the Springbok selectors during the recent Super 12s series, but Nigel disclosed, "He tells me his ambition is to play for England and this is where he was born. Obviously, he won't walk into our side, he'll have to fight for his place. The competition certainly keeps our present guys sharp."

Current first-choice centres are the acting captain Mark Denney and Fraser Waters who recently won his first full cap for England, against America.

But Wasps lost Irish and Lions centre Rob Henderson when his contract ended in May and he signed for Munster.

Stuart Abbott looks a worthy replacement and is expected to play and stay in London for a minimum of three years.

Melville has also moved swiftly to cover the back row crisis at the club following a spate of injuries.

Open-side Colin Allen, a Scotsman just out of contract at London Irish, will be registered as a Wasp on Wednesday morning in time to face Leicester at Welford Road on Saturday.

"Colin is a proven Premiership Number Seven and will be here at least until the end of this season," said the coach.

"He can do a very good job for us, with all these injuries our position in the back row is dire but this signing allows us to keep Joe Worsley at number eight and Rory Jenkins on the blind-side."

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