Aviva Premiership
Wasps confirm Flutey departure
ESPNscrum Staff
April 3, 2012
Wasps' Riki Flutey feels the full force of Gloucester's Akapusi Qera, Gloucester v London Wasps, Aviva Premiership, Kingsholm, Gloucester, England, December 26, 2011
Riki Flutey's Wasps days are at an end © Getty Images
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Wasps have confirmed that British & Irish Lions centre Riki Flutey will leave the club at the end of the season to return to New Zealand before embarking on a career in Japan.

As reported on Monday, Flutey has opted to make the switch to Japan for what is described as family reasons. The former England international is currently nursing an ankle injury and is likely to have played his final game for the Adams Park side.

Wasps' director of rugby Dai Young has paid tribute to the centre and has wished him well. And Flutey has put the move down to family reasons saying: "My wife and my three kids will first be returning to New Zealand and she is expecting our fourth child this summer.

"I really just want to take this chance to say a massive thanks to Wasps for being so supportive and understanding of what has been a tough decision to leave, but ultimately having four young kids away from family and a support network in New Zealand would be very tough.

"It goes without saying that the Club will always have a huge place in my heart, and I would especially like to thank all the fans and supporters I have had while in the UK. I look forward to seeing the club's success with Dai Young at the helm and returning in the future."

And reports in The Times suggest that Wasps' future could be decided in the next 48 hours. The club has been up for sale since last year and in January the club said that they had four interested parties lined up. And following their win over Gloucester on Sunday, then newspaper claims that the victory will have "accelerated the process".

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

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