London Wasps flyer Tom Varndell firing on all cylinders

When it comes to spare time, tweeting and playing video games rank pretty high on most rugby players’ list of hobbies.
But yesterday, Tom Varndell and three of his Wasps teammates, Christian Wade, Joe Simpson and Phil Swainston, traded their phone and control pad for a tweed jacket and a gun as they enjoyed a clay-pigeon shooting session at the E.J. Churchill Shooting Ground in High Wycombe.
It was a step in the unknown for Premiership top-try-scorer Varndell and, despite being his first time holding a gun, he revealed it certainly won’t be the last.
He said: “It was more fun than I initially thought it was going to be. I might have found a new hobby outside rugby.
“I’ve got to work on my aim a little bit but I’ll definitely come back and shoot down some clays.
“Shooting the high ones was a bit easier because you have time to get ready but when they’re coming straight at you, it’s a lot harder to judge.
“It’s pretty good for your hand-eye coordination. We should have a weekly session here as part of our training with Wasps.
“The country gear is pretty cool too. I think I might add that to my wardrobe.”
NICK VERDIER