Original source: The Good, The Bad & The Rugby
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How does a 150-year-old rugby club simply vanish? Joe Launchbury provides a harrowing inside account of the day the Wasps dream died.
Joe Launchbury Recounts 'Heartless' 10-Second Redundancy Meeting at Wasps
Joe Launchbury has described the shocking manner in which Wasps players were made redundant, recalling a meeting where an administrator he had never met before delivered the news in under 10 seconds. Despite senior management being present, they remained silent, leaving a hired official to inform the entire squad their careers at the club were over. The announcement was a brutal shock, as players had been led to believe administration was a step to make the club more desirable for new investors, not a final death blow.
The immediate aftermath was a chaotic, "NFL style scramble for jobs" in a brutal market mid-season. As captain, Launchbury felt a duty to help his teammates, but with the salary cap set and squads finalised in October, opportunities were scarce. The abrupt end and subsequent scramble for employment underscores the brutal business reality underpinning professional sport, a process that highlights the fragility of life for even established players.
"He must have spoke for under 10 seconds and it was a very stood up, very clearcut... and you're all made redundant. So yeah, it was all very quick."
Launchbury Still 'Raw and Emotional' Over Wasps Collapse and Management's Silence
The collapse of Wasps remains a "raw and emotional" subject for former captain Joe Launchbury, who describes feeling betrayed by the club's hierarchy in its final days. Players felt they were doing their job on the field but were let down by others who failed to do theirs off it. The lack of communication from leadership was particularly difficult, with management hiding behind privacy protocols while the club crumbled, leaving players in the dark about their futures.
Despite the pain, Launchbury expresses immense pride in how his former teammates and coaches have since succeeded at other clubs. He notes that the playing and coaching group genuinely felt they were building something special, and seeing individuals like Lee Blackett, Richard Wigglesworth, and numerous players become leading lights elsewhere offers a powerful, if bittersweet, validation of their collective talent.
"It was a huge part of my life which kind of ended like that. I've never quite computed it, I've never quite understood it."
Launchbury Reveals Eddie Jones's Mind Games, Praises Steve Borthwick's Coaching Style
Joe Launchbury has shed light on the contrasting coaching methods of two of England's most significant recent coaches, revealing a peculiar motivational tactic from Eddie Jones. Jones would frequently omit Launchbury from the apparent starting XV at the beginning of the week, even after a strong performance, knowing the decision would "fire him up" to train with more intensity before inevitably naming him in the final team. It was a psychological ploy that pushed his buttons and got the desired result on the training pitch.
In contrast, he lauded Steve Borthwick as an exceptional forwards coach who masterfully balanced short-term results with long-term player improvement. Launchbury credits Borthwick with not only building a world-class lineout but also ensuring players left England camp feeling they had become individually better, a difficult balance for any coach to strike in the high-pressure international arena.
"You could categorically at the end of every camp be like, 'I think I'll become a better player for the next few weeks.' And as a player, what more can you ask?"
▶ Watch this segment — 1:06:31
Launchbury Details Japan Move as Escape From 'English Rugby Bubble' After Wasps Folded
Following the collapse of Wasps, Joe Launchbury chose a move to Japan over an offer from Leicester Tigers, a decision he describes as a "sliding doors moment" for his career. The opportunity to join Steve Borthwick at Leicester would have kept his England ambitions alive, but the trauma of Wasps' demise made the prospect of facing his old club in the same league emotionally difficult. The idea of being in an opposition changing room just 30 miles from his former home was a tough one to compute so soon after the club folded.
The Japan offer represented a chance to escape the "English rugby bubble" and use the sport as a vehicle for a new life experience with his family. While he acknowledges the move likely marked the end of his international career, he expresses no regret, valuing the opportunity to experience a completely different culture and find a positive outcome from a devastating professional setback.
"The idea of being in an opposition change room 30 miles up the road I found pretty tough. The opportunity to go to Japan and almost get away from the English rugby bubble... was a bonus."
Launchbury Recalls Wasps' Turbulent Journey From Relegation Battles to Premiership Finals
Reflecting on his career at Wasps, Joe Launchbury recalls a period of extreme highs and lows, from fighting relegation in his early years to competing in two Premiership finals. He credits owner Derek Richardson with single-handedly saving the club when it was on the brink of financial collapse, paving the way for a move to Coventry and a period of on-field success. The team, bolstered by world-class signings like George Smith, Kurtley Beale, and Charles Piutau, developed serious firepower and reached the finals in 2017 and 2020.
Despite the thrilling journey and building a new supporter base in the Midlands, Launchbury's one regret is never having won a trophy with the club that meant so much to him. The narrow loss to Exeter in 2017 stings in particular, a pivotal moment where the ultimate prize was within their grasp but slipped away, a painful reminder of how difficult it is to secure silverware in professional sport.
"I would love to have looked back now and having won a trophy with a club that meant so much to me... that would be my only if you can call it regret or you can just call it something you wish happened."
Courtney Lawes Was My Perfect Partner, Says Joe Launchbury
Joe Launchbury has named Courtney Lawes as the second-row partner he most enjoyed playing alongside for England, citing their complementary playing styles. He felt their skills suited each other well, with Lawes delivering the spectacular hits that Launchbury admits he could never replicate. In turn, Launchbury focused on the more "unglamorous" aspects of forward play, valuing the tight, attritional work that allows a team to function effectively.
He also credited former international lock Geoff Parling as a key influence early in his career. Launchbury noted Parling's analytical brain and how he helped guide him as a young player, recognizing the coaching potential that Parling would later fulfill. For Launchbury, the ideal partnership is a yin and yang, a balance of different strengths that elevates the entire team.
"Some of the stuff he could do I could never do, some of the hits he could do... But I'd like to think the bit like unglamorous sort of more stuff was the bits I probably enjoyed."
▶ Watch this segment — 1:02:18
James Haskell Hails Launchbury's 'Astronomical' Talent and Understated Leadership
Former teammate James Haskell has lauded Joe Launchbury as a standout player who, at times, seemed to be playing a different game from everyone else. Haskell highlighted Launchbury's exceptional ball-carrying, physicality, and offloading skills, noting that his quiet demeanor often meant his phenomenal contributions went under the radar. Despite this, his impact was undeniable to those on the field with him.
Haskell also praised Launchbury's leadership style as captain, describing him as someone who led by example through his "astronomical" performances. He recalled how Launchbury's calm exterior concealed a real steel and professional determination, occasionally surprising academy players in training with a sudden, ferocious tackle that set the standard for the entire squad.
"He was brilliant as a captain. I think really led from the front, but because also he had that kind of calm demeanor, but real level of physicality. I always used to love it. He would lead by his performances, which were astronomical."
Launchbury Recalls 'Whirlwind' England Debut at 21 After a Prank Call Scare
Joe Launchbury recounted his unexpected England debut at the age of 21, which came so suddenly he initially thought the call-up from coach Stuart Lancaster was a prank from his mates. After an injury to Tom Palmer, Launchbury was called into the squad on a Sunday and found himself playing the following Saturday, giving him no time to overthink the occasion. He made his debut on the same day as Mako Vunipola and Tom Youngs, two players who would feature heavily in his international career.
This rapid introduction began a run of 22 consecutive games for his country, establishing him as a mainstay in the team almost immediately. Launchbury expressed his gratitude for Lancaster's early backing, which provided a young player with a crucial vote of confidence at the start of his Test career.
"When Stuart first called me, I didn't believe it was him. The kind of classic 'I'm not sure you're getting pranked by your mate.'"
Summarised from The Good, The Bad & The Rugby · 1:18:18. All credit belongs to the original creators. The Good the Bad and the Rugby summarises publicly available video content.
