Cornish Pirates

Moseley

Moseley Rugby Club have announced further signings for the 2010/11 RFU Championship season. The latest four to join the Billesley Common based side are:

David Lyons, a 2nd Row from Worcester who impressed whilst on loan last season. 25 year old Lyons made his Premiership debut at Harlequins two years ago and has been a long time target for Moseley. Standing at 6'6" (2m) and weighing over 18 stone (115kg) his bulk and ball carrying skills will see him competing for the No1 spot in the second row.

A further lock forward joining the club is Paul Spivey who provides similar bulk and arrives from Old Belvedere in Ireland. Paul, 24, is a former England under 18 cap and has experience with both Leeds and Hull Ionians. He is widely expected to add the athletic dimension to the Moseley boiler room with a reputation for a high level of fitness

Ben Pons, who progressed through the club from the age of 8 through to the Colts and Development sides, rejoins after appearing in fourteen Championship matches for Coventry last season. Pons, a fast and skilful back row player is expected to add yet further competition at the base of the scrum and the young flanker will undoubtedly benefit from the expertise of Moseley's 37 times capped head coach Ian Smith.

Another young player who will benefit from the expertise of the former Moseley & Scotland International is Michael Ellery who joins from Newcastle. Ellery was highly rated in the North East and the 20 year old turned down an offer from the Premiership side to move to Birmingham. The No. 8 will offer pace in the loose and expects to fulfil his impressive potential in next season's RFU Championship.

These four additions are meeting up with their new team mates in pre-season training which started last week, and join four previously announced new players in what promises to be a competitive Moseley team this coming campaign.

Nottingham

Phil Eggleshaw has this week put pen to paper to sign a deal that will keep him at Meadow Lane until 2013.

The 21-year-old back row man is one of the club's success stories, having come up from the Academy system via Paviors RFC.

Eggleshaw will graduate from Durham University this summer before fully embarking on a life of professional rugby and Director of Rugby Glenn Delaney is delighted to have secured his services.

He said: "It's great news that Phil has signed a three -year deal with us and committed his future to the club

He is exactly the sort of player I want in my squad - his attitude is exactly right. We threw him into some pretty hard situations last season by putting him in the centre and on the wing and asked a lot of him but he rose to every challenge we gave him and did a good job."

Last season Eggleshaw was balancing a full time degree in Sport with his training and playing commitments, making 22 appearances in the Championship.

But Delaney is pleased he will be able to concentrate on his rugby full time now, saying: "Last season he was travelling down from Durham for training and matches - there is no doubting his commitment to the club

It will be great to have him on board full time now so we can really focus on his development and make sure he is playing a big part in our 2010/11 campaign.

He is a huge credit to John Widdowson and his Academy process here - he is really the first graduate to have come up into the first XV and he sets a great example to young players across the NLD region."

Pre-season training started this week ahead of Nottingham's first match against Leicester Tigers on Friday August 13 (7.45pm).

Worcester Warriors

Dynamic and versatile back Tom Arscott has today joined Worcester Warriors and completed the club's recruitment ahead of the new Championship campaign.

Arscott, who started his professional career at Plymouth Albion, will join the Warriors this summer having agreed a move to Sixways on a two-year deal where he will be reunited with former coach Richard Hill

The hugely talented 22-year-old, comfortable playing at both full back and wing, made a total of 69 appearances for Bristol Rugby and scored 20 tries.

A former England Under-19 international, Arscott joined Bristol in 2007 and scored nine tries in 19 starts in his first full season, catching the eye of the England Saxons selectors before an injury ruled him out.

Arscott again impressed in the Championship last season to finish with ten tries, including a hat-trick against Coventry in October.

Head Coach Richard Hill has spoken of his delight over his latest acquisition and the chance to again work closely with Arscott.

Tom is very rapid and a natural try scorer. He loves scoring tries and if you give him half a chance he will take it and so we're delighted he will join us at Warriors," said Hill

He was one of the stars of the Championship during his time at Plymouth and when he came to Bristol he made an immediate impact in the first team. He knows the league and all the grounds he will be playing at and knows what is expected.

Tom is an exciting young English player who is very versatile, as he can play on the wing or full back, and is very quick so will add another real potent attacking weapon to our squad."

The Warriors have also today confirmed that they have reached an agreement with the Australian Rugby Union that will see Luke Rooney return to Australia and therefore not see his contract out at Sixways Stadium

As part of the agreement, Warriors have agreed that they will continue to have an option with Luke should he make a return to Northern Hemisphere rugby in the future.

Doncaster Knights

With Lynn Howells having already announced that he will step down from the helm at Castle Park at the end of the season, the Welshman has tipped his second in command – Brett Davey – to take charge.

Howells told The Star:

“I brought Brett to the club with an eye to taking over from me. He is taking his Level Four badge and has certainly got the rugby knowledge and man-management skills.

It is always sad to leave a club because you make so many friends. The club and certainly the officials at Doncaster, have been very good to me, but it is the right time.

I think it will be good for the club to get someone in with new ideas at the end of the season to move it forward again. I think after three or four years the players have heard it all before and, from my point of view as well, I need to move forward and face a fresh challenge.”

Full story www.thestar.co.uk

Rotherham Titans

Andre Bester’s side have confirmed the following three pre-season fixtures:-

August 7^th – Macclesfield (a) 2pm

August 14^th – Possibles v Probables (Herringthorpe Stadium) 2pm

August 21^st – Newcastle Falcons (a) 2pm