London Wasps can confirm that Irish international scrum half, Eoin Reddan has committed himself to the club for a further two years, until the end of the 2009/10 season.

Reddan, whose current form won him his first Six Nations start and the Man of the Match Award in Ireland’s win over Italy last weekend, joined Wasps from Munster in the summer of 2005 and quickly embarked on an upward trajectory. Coming in as the second string No9 behind Matt Dawson, his lightening service and eye for a gap soon saw him overtake Dawson to become Wasps first choice scrum half and by the end of his first season he had also won his first cap for Ireland (against France in the 2006 Six Nations) and picked up a Powergen Cup winners medal with his new club.

Since then Eoin has gone on to become a key figure in the team. He scored the opening try in Wasps’ Heineken Cup victory last May, and by the conclusion of the World Cup had wrestled the Irish No9 shirt from long-time incumbent, Peter Stringer.

On Reddan’s return to club action, Director of Rugby Ian McGeechan utilised his leadership skills by handing him the captain’s armband for several games in the absence of Club Captain, Lawrence Dallaglio, and the scrum half maintained his good form to win a first Six Nations start last weekend.

Speaking about his decision to stay with Wasps, Reddan said, “I am very happy with this decision. Since joining Wasps, the club very quickly became a home away from home for me, and there is something very special about the place that means I am delighted to be staying on for a further two seasons.

“I’ve learned a lot in the last two and a half years at Wasps and I do feel there is more to come, both in what I can learn and in what the team can achieve. Wasps have been very successful in recent years, but we remain ambitious to build on that success this season and in the future. Wasps is a great club, with top class players all over the park, and providing we work hard as a squad and keep our winning mentality, we can fulfil our aim of continuing to win trophies.”

Director of Rugby, Ian McGeechan said, “We are delighted that Eoin has committed to Wasps for another two seasons. He has become a very important part of what we do and how we do it - his all round game suits the way we play and the speed and quality of his passing has become a key factor in our approach to games. His game has come on hugely in his time with the club and he has become a very influential player – one that both Shaun Edwards and I enjoy working with.

“Shaun and I are delighted to see Eoin’s progress being rewarded at international level. Wasps’ ethos is firmly based on providing the best support and coaching for our players, giving them a platform to realise their ambitions to play at the highest level. Eoin’s decision to extend his commitment to Wasps is affirmation that we are delivering on that front, as well as a tremendous fillip to the club.

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