Hobson looks to Wasps to fulfil his dreams (From This Is Local London)

Hobson looks to Wasps to fulfil his dreams

8:20am Sunday 14th June 2009

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JASON Hobson is 26 but the new Wasps signing hasn’t quite lived his dream yet.

Knee, shoulder and neck injuries have interrupted his career development but he believes a move to Wasps is just what he needs to make up for lost time.

The prop, who signed from Bristol on a two-year deal this week, said: “I’ve had some injuries, but it’s all about management, you just have to be managed in the right way and Wasps are one of the best in the business at that.

“They’re good at what they do, not just on the pitch, but off it too.

“I wouldn’t be coming here if I didn’t think that. What’s happened with Phil [Vickery] is a very good example of that.”

Hobson emerged as a talent at Exeter and was quickly snapped up by Bristol in 2003, where he established himself as a crowd favourite.

But although he has England U21 and England Saxons honours, plus one senior cap earned last summer against the All Blacks, 62 games in five seasons is not enough.

He said: “I’m recovering from neck surgery and I’ve got an individual programme I’m following, but that’s going to be incorporated into the weights work at Wasps.

“I’m going to do everything they do. I could play right now.”

Bristol’s relegation has sparked an exodus with Hobson following Dan Ward-Smith and David Lemi up the M4 to Bucks.

But while he admits they will ease the settling in process, he says signing for a club like Wasps was a no-brainer.

He said: “They are a side that knows how to win things. That’s pretty appealing to any player.

“I spoke to them and liked what they had to say and where they wanted to take the club.

“That was enough for me.”

New forwards coach Trevor Woodman hadn’t been confirmed when Hobson put pen to paper, but he is delighted the World Cup winner is now on board.

He said: “I heard Trevor was an option but when I sat down and spoke to them it wasn’t done.

“It’s a good appointment for me because he’s a front rower and I can learn a lot off him, but it wasn’t too big a concern for me.

“I was pretty confident they would appoint the right person.”

Director of rugby Tony Hanks said: “Jason is a highly promising prop who despite injury struggles has still been in the mix on the international scene.

“He is a good addition to our squad and I’m sure he is looking forward to getting out there and back to pushing for higher honours once again.”

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