IAN COSTELLO HAS extended his stint at Wasps after the Gallagher Premiership club announced new contracts for head coach Lee Blackett and his staff.
The deals – details of which have not been disclosed – come after Wasps reached last month’s Premiership final despite a dismal start to the 2019-20 season.
Long-serving boss Dai Young stepped down in February, at which point the Coventry outfit had lost six of their opening nine games of the campaign.
With Costello remaining in his role as defence coach, Young was replaced by Blackett, who oversaw a very impressive run of 12 victories from a possible 15.
Having climbed to second place in the table, Wasps defeated Bristol in the semi-finals. With several players absent due to a Covid-19 outbreak, Blackett’s side suffered a 19-13 defeat to European champions Exeter Chiefs in the decider.
After the season resumed in August following the Covid-19 shutdown, Costello helped Wasps to concede the second-fewest points and third-fewest tries in the Premiership.
The former Munster assistant coach first linked up with Wasps ahead of the 2018-19 season, having spent two years in charge of Championship outfit Nottingham.
“Delighted to have the opportunity to keep working with such a great group of coaches and players,” the 43-year-old tweeted. “Ready to go again after the shortest pre-season ever.”
Wasps will begin their 2020-21 Premiership campaign at home to Bristol on Sunday.
Great fighter and great steal for Bellator. UFCs partnership with Reebok is turning a lot of fighters against them. Good to see Bellator getting stronger as they promote Irish lads under the Bamma banner
Donegals Joesph Duffy has left the UFC also. He refused a new contract. The Reebok deal really is screwing up the fighters earning capacity.
@Gary: Ryan Bader came out recently and said he was earning 3-4 times more at Bellator due to sponsorships than at UFC since the Reebok deal. Hopefully more follow and switch
@brucelee on the decline?? He’s top 5 and if he beat weidmen (highly likely he would have) could have got a title shot
@Ronan Barrett: he did beat Weidman
He’s on the decline but this signing is a great statement by bellator.
@Bruce Lee: Please explain how he is on the decline.
As step backwards for mousasi , bet he will be back in UFC after fight deal ends .
Hope he fights at LHW because middleweight is barren in Bellator. They have a few big name old fighters they could feed to him. Then he can get revenge on King Mo and win the belt against Bader