Joe Launchbury signs contract extension with Wasps

Wasps have confirmed that England international Joe Launchbury has penned a new deal with the Aviva Premiership club.

The news follows after Launchbury's England team-mate and British and Irish Lions star Elliot Daly has also completed new terms with the Coventry side.

Launchbury made his professional rugby debut with Worthing and moved to Wasps in 2010. He was named the captain of the side ahead of the 2016/17 Aviva Premiership.

Rugby director Dai Young hailed Launchbury's new deal as another positive for the last term's defeated Premiership finalists.

"We know a number of sides would have been keen for Joe to join them and it is a mark of his loyalty and belief in the squad we are assembling that he has put pen to paper to sign on again with Wasps," said Young.

"Joe has been with us for a long time and has stuck through the tougher times here. He has also experienced more recent times when we've been much more competitive and hopefully he can be around when we go the next step and achieve some silverware, which he deserves.

"During the time Joe has been with us, he's developed from a club player into an international player and I believe he is now a world-class second row in his own right.

"He has grown with the added responsibility of the captaincy and he's a really big part of everything we are about. Launchers will undoubtedly play an even bigger role in the next stage of our development, as we aim to continue competing at the top and try to get our hands on something over the next couple of seasons.

"It's a well-known cliche that when you need people the stronger get stronger, and he certainly stood up when things weren't going well at the beginning of the season.

"Joe didn't panic and provided a real example of what's needed not only to be a world-class player but also a world-class leader. We are really lucky to have him on board."

The 26-year-old made his England debut in November 2012 and has gone on to represent the red rose team in 47 Tests including the recently concluded autumn international clash against Samoa.

"I am delighted to sign a new contract to stay at Wasps; it's a place my family and I have come to call home over the past seven years and I'm really pleased to sign on again for a bit longer at the club, as we work hard to fulfil the ambitions we have as a squad," said Launchbury.

"Over the past few weeks, it has been great to see a number of players signing new contracts, enabling the club to retain quality players in what is already a fantastic squad.

"That reflects the belief we have in Dai (Young) and in our squad, that together we can build on the progress we've made over the past few seasons and take our game to the next level. I really want to play my part in that moving forward."

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