Maori back Flutey can be future England star

Getting a real buzz: Riki Flutey (left) and Eoin Reddan hold up the Guinness Premiership trophy after Wasps' victory over Leicester at Twickenham on Saturday

Chris Jones|Rugby Correspondent

13 April 2012

Tom Rees heads to New Zealand today with a Guinness Premiership winner's medal in his possession and the belief that Kiwi Riki Flutey should be a key member of England's 2011 World Cup challenge.

Rees, a try-scoring hero as London Wasps beat Leicester 26-16 to give captain Lawrence Dallaglio the perfect retirement present, now faces two Tests against the All Blacks.

And by the time the same opposition arrive at Twickenham in November, Flutey will have qualified for England on residency.

Flutey went into the Premiership play-off final as English rugby's Players' Player of the Season, and the Wasps inside-centre made a huge impact in the No10 jersey, normally worn by the injured Danny Cipriani.

Flutey, a Maori who joined from London Irish this season, is actively considering becoming "English" in time for the Autumn Tests with New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and the Pacific Barbarians that will determine where the 2007 World Cup runners-up are seeded for the 2011 tournament being staged in New Zealand. A club partnership of Cipriani and Flutey in midfield would give England a real attacking threat later this year, and Rees said: "A lot has been made about Danny this year, and rightly so, but Riki has been fantastic.

"I remember coming back from the World Cup in France, and this guy was already calling the shots. He has an amazing work ethic and is ridiculously skilful, so much so it's embarrassing at times and I am very happy to have him on my team.

"I know he is a very proud Maori but I think that hanging out with us at Wasps, he realises it's a huge honour to play for England. In purely rugby terms, the more quality players England have to choose from the better."

Rees, one of the contenders to succeed Dallaglio as Wasps captain, admitted: "We will all miss Lawrence a huge amount. He has brought a huge presence to the team, both as a player and a leader. I am confident from that mentality he has worked really hard to instil, we will go forward from here.

"Guys like Lawrence don't come around too often, so you need someone [as captain] who is going to be fairly comfortable with that weight on his shoulders. We have been built around Lawrence, and now, hopefully, we will move forward."

For Dallaglio, the first day as an ex-player involved meeting up with the rest of the Wasps squad at a pub in Fulham, donning a shirt with "The Lol" on the back and continuing the celebrations.

But he will then prepare for a hectic life off the pitch. Besides helping choose the Lions back row players for the 2009 tour to South Africa, Dallaglio has to boost Wasps sponsorship income in his new capacity as an associate director while also studying for his level three Rugby Football Union coaching qualification.

He said: "Coaching is something I'd like to do in the future but not immediately. It is not something you can walk right into.

"There are no guarantees that because you have been an elite player you can become an elite coach. You have to be humble as a coach. It is something you have to learn how to do."

Dallaglio will also be given the task of identifying the club's new home from a five-strong short list. Wasps and co-tenants Wycombe Wanderers need to move from Adams Park because of the restricted 10,000 capacity.

The multi-million pound scheme to produce a 20,000-seater venue is vital if Wasps are to match the team's achievements on the pitch.

Dallaglio said: "On the pitch we are in great health. But there are bigger challenges off the field. Rugby is about to take another leap into the next level of professionalism, and the budgets are getting bigger.

"We need to be able to boast one of the best stadiums in the country, the best squad and the best stadium."

MORE ABOUT

Danny Cipriani

Maori back Flutey can be future England star

Read More