Joe Launchbury launchpad is thanks to boss Dai Young
Rejected by Harlequins at 17, Exeter-born Launchbury rebuilt his career at Worthing before being taken on by Wasps in 2009, just as the club stood on the crest of a slump.
Relegation last season might have proved terminal, but disaster was avoided and with the full backing of Wasps boss Dai Young, the 22-year-old lock has flourished.
Challenges? You might say. But Launchbury has risen to every one of them.
Nine international caps, QBE autumn man of the series, the young player award and a place on England’s tour to Argentina and Uruguay…can life get any better?
“You do have to pinch yourself sometimes at how things have turned out,” Launchbury told The Rugby Paper. “Everything happens for a reason, I guess, and you never know what’s going to happen in rugby, so I’m delighted with where I am now.
“A lot’s happened in a year, personally and for the club. The off-field stuff seems to have been sorted and we can really start pushing things forward, while it’s been a great season for me form-wise and in terms of representing my country.
“My goals for the season were to play well for Wasps, maybe play a couple of Saxons games and that was it. Fortunately, a bit of faith was put in me and I’ve repaid that.”
Much of the credit for Launchbury’s meteoric rise must go to Young, who was singing the player’s praises long before anyone else noticed.
Chucked into the heat of last season’s intense relegation battle, Launchbury responded heroically to his club’s plight and is grateful for the faith Young showed.
“Dai and I have got a good relationship and he’s doing great things at the club,” he said. “For him to say the things he did about me last season was fantastic.
“Dai’s been at Wasps for the last two years and my rise has coincided with that, so a lot of that is down to him and the work he’s done with me. He’s a great man-manager and even when he could have lost his head in the dark times, he stayed calm.
“I’m grateful for that, but we both know that playing at the highest level you’ve got to be consistent, and that’s the challenge now. You’ve got to keep on doing the simple things well, keep improving other aspects and try not to have a bad game.”
Launchbury is expected to be one of the linchpins of England’s effort in Argentina and, just as he always does, he will accept the challenge head on.
He added: “What I’ve learned more than anything this season is that there are no easy games in international rugby.
“The Six Nations was a long, tough tournament and you’ve got to scrap hard in every single game.
“I’m really excited about this tour and it’ll be a massive challenge after how the Six Nations finished. We want to draw a line under Cardiff and really kick-on.
“We’re taking a young side out there so it’s a good opportunity to show what we can do. I’ve never been to South America before but people say they’re very passionate about their rugby.”
Just like Launchbury.
NEALE HARVEY
