British and Irish Lion Josh Lewsey has come out of retirement to rejoin London Wasps on a short-term deal.
The 34-year-old who played all three tests for the Lions on the 2005 tour to New Zealand has agreed a deal until the end of the season to provide cover for the back-three until the end of the season.
The 2003 World Cup winner spent over ten years with Wasps helping the club to four Premiership titles, two Heineken Cups, a European Challenge Cup and two domestic Cup successes.
Interim Director of Rugby Leon Holden said: “This is a fantastic short term signing for us and I have no doubt Josh will make a huge contribution to the squad in what is left of the season. Josh has been playing some charity games lately and he’s kept himself in remarkably good shape in the two years since he retired. We have had a few knocks to players in our back three in recent weeks – and with Tom Varndell out for a longer spell, we really do need some cover and we don’t think we could have done any better than bringing someone like Josh back to the club.”
Lewsey said: “This isn't a long term thing but after playing in a couple of recent charity games, Leon and Shaun (Edwards) contacted me to see if I could assist the club for the remainder of the season. If they think I could positively contribute to my old club in any way- be it on the field or around the dressing room on match days, then I'd be happy to do so"
Lewsey, now 34, won 55 caps for England scoring 22 tries, having made his test debut in 1998. He joined Wasps in 1998 after two years with Bristol, and became a crucial part of club success for over a decade. Since retiring he has been on an expedition to Mount Everest and works full time at PwC as a management consultant.
