Aviva Premiership
Varndell and Ward-Smith commit to Wasps
Scrum.com
September 17, 2010
Wasps' Tom Varndell touches down for a try, London Wasps v London Irish, Guinness Premiership, Adams Park, Wycombe, England, April 4, 2010
Tom Varndell has been a prolific scorer at Wasps © Getty Images
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Players/Officials: Tom Varndell | Dan Ward-Smith
Tournaments/Tours: Aviva Premiership
Teams: Wasps

England prospects Tom Varndell and Dan Ward-Smith have committed their futures to London Wasps by signing new two-year deals.

The duo follow in the footsteps of Serge Betsen, Richard Birkett, Ben Broster, Rob Webber, Tom Rees, Christian Wade, Dominic Waldouck, Joe Ward and Joe Worsley, who have all extended their contracts with the club this season.

Since arriving from Leicester Tigers in 2009, Varndell has become a regular on the wing for Wasps, making 29 appearances and scoring 19 tries during his debut season. Ward-Smith, 32, joined from Bristol in the same summer and has made a significant impact at both lock and in the back-row. Both have begun the new season promisingly and will be hoping to press their international claims after securing their club futures.

Wasps director of rugby Tony Hanks said, "We are really pleased to secure the services of these two quality players. Both Tom and Dan have bought into the Wasps way and established themselves as key members of the squad.

"Retention of key members is vital and we are excited about the squad we are building short and long term. Both families; Dan, Jamie and Brooke and Tom, Claire and Tao have settled in very well and we are pleased that they will continue to be a part of the club long term."

Varndell, 25, has started the season in try-scoring fashion, crossing the line twice in the opening two Aviva Premiership matches, suggesting he will once again challenge for a place in Martin Johnson's England set-up having already won four senior caps and starred in the Saxons squad in recent seasons.

Ward-Smith, meanwhile, was selected for England's end of season tour of the southern hemisphere and has been included in the Saxons squad for the 2010-11.

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