London Wasps - one of only three clubs to have both the Heineken Cup and Amlin Challenge Cup - have been handed a boost with young forward Joe Launchbury signing a contract extension that will keep him at the club until the summer of 2015.
Wasps, the 2003 Amlin Challenge Cup winners and 2004 and 2007 Heineken Cup champions, face key Pool 3 back-to-back matches against Bayonne when the Amlin Challenge Cup resumes next month when Launchbury will again be a key figure.
"This is fantastic news for us and it is a huge signing for the club," said Director of Rugby Dai Young.
"It gives a real shot in the arm to all of our players and coaches as it's a vote of confidence in what we are trying to do here and I am sure our supporters will be over the moon that someone of Joe's quality has signed on for the foreseeable future."
England prospect Launchbury's rapid progression at the highest level of the game comes following the huge impact he has made at London Wasps since joining the Club from Worthing, on the advice of ex-player Will Green in the 2009/10 season.
The 21-year old has made 33 senior appearances since and features regularly at both lock and blindside flanker.
Launchbury said: "I had no hesitation in extending my deal. There are some really good players for me to learn from here in our pack and I feel very confident with the talent we have here in the squad and the coaching set up that we are part of something that is really building in a positive direction."
