Billy Vunipola has been in terrific form for Wasps this season © Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

Players/Officials: Joe Launchbury | Joe Simpson | Mako Vunipola | Billy Vunipola | Christian Wade | Dai Young

Tournaments/Tours: Aviva Premiership

Teams: Saracens | Wasps

Wasps director of rugby Dai Young is determined to tie-down Billy Vunipola on a new long-term deal as he plans to build the club's future around a host of talented youngsters.

Vunipola, whose brother Mako won his first England cap against Fiji on Saturday, has impressed at No.8 for Wasps in the Aviva Premiership but is out of contract at the end of the season. Saracens have been linked with a move for the Wasps back-rower, which would see the Vunipola brothers team up at Saracens.

But Young is desperate to retain the 20-year-old, who he sees as crucial to Wasps' future along with the likes of scrum-half Joe Simpson, wing Christian Wade, lock Joe Launchbury and centre Elliot Daly.

Young told the Rugby Paper: "Billy is still 20, it's quite frightening. He's only going to get bigger and stronger. People seem to be bouncing off him already. I'm over the moon with him. We have to get his contract done as quickly as possible but these things don't happen overnight.

"It's that time of the year when there is huge speculation about who is coming and going. We have to work hard to keep hold of these important players. There are a lot of really good youngsters coming through and they will hopefully be the core of Wasps for many years to come. It's my job over the next couple of seasons to build the team around these players.

"If you look at the team Christian Wade has been excellent in all aspects in the last couple of games. Veryone knows what he can do with the ball in hand. Elliot Daly is there or thereabouts and is only going to get better. Joe Simpson is still quite young and has improved his game no end. We all know what a threat he is with ball in hand but his game understanding and running of the game has been far better this season."