By Luke Baker

DAN Robson will be gunning to take Joe Simpson’s number nine shirt at Wasps this term but Simpson claims he is excited about the competition the former Gloucester man will bring.

Robson made almost 90 appearances for Gloucester since debuting in 2010 but has made the move to Wasps after signing a long-term deal with the Coventry-based club.

The 23-year-old was often forced to play second fiddle to Scotland international Greig Laidlaw at Kingsholm last term, meaning he will be keen to make the scrum-half berth his own at the Ricoh Arena.

That will be easier said than done with Simpson, an England international, currently the incumbent but the 27-year-old is under no illusions about the challenge Robson will bring.

“Dan will be my competition now and I know he’ll want to get that number nine shirt but I had a great time playing for Wasps last year and I hope that continues,” said Simpson.

“I felt I was playing the best rugby of my career so any competition is welcome and I’m looking forward to everyone contributing and pushing us in the right direction.

“You’re aware of all the scrum-halves in the country, particularly the English ones – you know who is playing well and who’s not.

“Obviously Dan was behind Greig Laidlaw who is a great player, so he didn’t get much of an opportunity which was unfortunate.”

Robson ended his time with Gloucester in spectacular fashion as he scored three tries in his final four games for the club.

However, the Cherry & Whites agonisingly missed out on Champions Cup rugby, losing 23-22 to Bordeaux-Begles in a play-off, whereas Wasps will be at European Rugby’s top table this season following a sixth-place finish in the Premiership.

And Simpson is hopeful that Robson can help push Wasps towards even greater heights this time around.

“You always try to push each other on when you’re at the same club and Dan will do that for me,” he added.

“But my main aim is for Wasps to win matches and I want to play as much as I can.

“The top six has to be our minimum expectations after breaking into it last year but we want to improve on that. We’ll work our way from there.

“There’s got to be an extra 20 per cent to lift us up the league and top four would be our aspiration.

“It’s one of the things I would personally love to break into but we know the work, effort and luck you have to have.”

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