Lee Smith admits defeat at Wasps

Wednesday 31 March 2010
Published By: Ben Welch
Guinness Premiership > London Wasps

Rugby league convert Lee Smith has been granted a release from his Wasps contract after failing to set the world of union alight.

The 23-year-old will return to his former club Leeds Rhinos after meeting with chief executive Gary Hetherington just hours after leaving the London side.

Smith made the switch following the rugby league Four Nations series in the autumn and had hoped to be the most successful convert since Jason Robinson, who famously scored a try in England's victorious World Cup final in 2003.

However, Smith failed to settle and managed only two senior starts for Wasps in the space of four months.

He explained: "Unfortunately things have not worked out for me. I am returning home to be closer to my family."

In recent years both Chev Walker and Karl Pryce have failed to adapt to the 15-man game and ended up returning to league after moves to Bath and Gloucester respectively.

Posted by Ben Welch