JACK Wallace admits that he leaves his hometown club with mixed emotions this summer.
The Wasps back is packing his bags for the Andy Robinson revolution at Championship side Bristol, but says that walking out of Adams Park wasn’t easy.
Wallace, who joined Wasps from RGS High Wycombe four seasons ago, said: “It was a very tough call and I took a long time over it – a couple of weeks.
“Being a local lad, I’ve supported Wasps ever since I was little and they’ve been fantastic to me during my four years there.
“I left school in 2008 and remember making my debut against Gloucester in the LV Cup at Adams Park the next year.
“There will always be a place in my heart for them.”
However, Wallace has played just 31 times for the black and golds since his debut in November 2009.
Last season he made nine appearances and scored four tries, but the utility back remained on the periphery of the first team squad.
He said: “It wasn’t an easy decision to leave at all, but I felt the only way I could improve as a player was by getting more game time.
“You can’t beat playing games and at my age, 22, it’s all about playing week in, week out. “It might have been different if I was older, but to develop my potential I need to be playing more regularly.
“Wasps have a cracking squad and in the back three there is Wadey [Christian Wade], Tom Varndell, Hugo Southwell and Elliot Daly.
“I only had limited opportunities. I felt I took them well, I felt when I played I did well and when I got feedback it was always positive.
“But what can you do?”
However, while he concedes that leaving Wasps is a wrench, Wallace joins an exciting environment at the Memorial Stadium where former England head coach Robinson has grand plans.
He said: “It will be strange having spent my whole career at Wasps, but it’s a new challenge and I’m very much looking forward to it.
“It seems like Andy Robinson is building something special down there and he’s made some great new signings.
“I think Bristol is definitely going to be a force to be reckoned with. We’ve just seen Newcastle get promoted and if we play well next season I don’t think there’s any reason why we can’t follow them up.
“I don’t see this as a backward step at all.
“It’s a chance to prove myself.
“My intention is to get back to Premiership rugby and if I can get there with Bristol then that would be fantastic.
“But I don’t want to rush it. I want to play games and develop and hopefully when I do come back to the Premiership I’ll be a better player.”
Wallace, who also played for Amersham and Chiltern RFC before moving to Wasps, follows Nick Robinson to the West Country.
Pre-season begins on June 10, as it does for Wasps.
