It's safe to say that Sam Wilson who leaves the Wasps to play his rugby at Penrith next season will be a massive miss both on and off the pitch. I caught up with him after presentation night to look back on his time at the Wasps, his ambitions as a Penrith and Cumbria player and what he'll miss most about CRUFC.

Favourite player
Sam Simmonds

Favourite Team
Newcastle Falcons

Biggest role model
Matty Wilson, carrying that nose around all day I don't know how he does it!

How old were you when you started playing for the Wasps
6

Biggest achievement in a Wasps jersey
Beating Aspatria at home for first time since 1970s a few years back in my first game as captain

How do you feel the season has gone for the first team
As we had expected really. Strong at home and experienced travelling as a group and had some tough games learning the level. Felt we could have finished even higher than 8th but 4 or 5 close games got away from us and cost us.

How do you think they will get on back in the Counties 1 Cumbria league next season
The lads will smash it if they stick together, and I'm sure they will. Its hard to take being effectively demoted but I back the boys to get behind Jim and Ed and have a great year. Other lads will need to step up and lead at times too which they are capable of doing.

You recently represented Cumbria against Warwickshire, East Midlands and Staffordshire, how did you play and how was the experience
I loved every minute of it, its what I was working towards when I was recovering from my knee injury and was a big motivation. I'll let others who watched say how they think I went. I'm just focused on getting back there next year!

Future ambitions in the sport
County has opened my eyes a bit so want to keep getting better and see how far I can take it while I'm enjoying it and the body will let me!

You've had a few injuries in recent years, how have you managed with recovery
Covid was perfect timing for me really it meant I got another year to recover without missing much rugby and not much else to do apart from train! I got into crossfit at Lake District Barbell over that time and I'd recommend anyone with an injury or wanting to get fit to try it.

Any advice for youngsters looking to become a Wasps player
Focus on enjoying it and buy into the club. It's about the social and community side as much as the rugby so put into the environment and you'll get more back out of it

One thing you'll miss most about the Wasps
The community that is the club. I think everyone there knows how much I love the club and everyone in it is like family.

And one thing you won't miss
Hevs breath it's horrific.

Everyone at the club wishes Sam all the best as he embarks on his journey as a Penrith and Cumbria player. Massive thanks for all your hard work on and off the pitch big fella.

#onceawaspalwaysawasp