London Scottish have signed four new players to give the squad a significant boost ahead of the new Greene King IPA Championship season, which starts this weekend.
Tight-head props Dan Koroi and Ewan McQuillin have both put pen to paper, whilst back-row Matt Marley and full-back Ben Rath have also signed.
Dan Koroi joins from Italian club Rugby Mogliano, and the 26-year-old has international experience with Fiji after representing them on six occasions, including during the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
Ewan McQuillin signs after being part of the Elite Development Programme with Edinburgh Rugby, and the 24-year-old prop has also played for Gala and Melrose, where he played under new Forwards Coach John Dalziel.
The tight-head duo add to the front-row options, giving the Scots strength in depth with the likes of Phil Cringle, Jonny Harris, Grant Shiells, Dave Cherry, Cameron Fenton and Devlin Hope in that area.
Matt Marley has also made the move to the Athletic Ground. The back-rower has been with the Cardiff Blues academy as well as the Wales age groups, and the 20-year-old has signed after impressing during a trial with the Scots, including in both pre-season matches against Blackheath and Saracens.
Ben Rath is an exciting addition to the back-line, bringing plenty of pace from full-back.
Rath spent three years with Rotherham Titans and last season averaged a try every other game, crossing the line five times in 10 matches.
The former England Counties representative has also been on trial with the Scots, and will be with the club throughout the new season.
The signings complete the squad for the season, and Scottish can also confirm their dual registration players for the 16/17 campaign.
England age-group trio of forwards Huw Taylor, Charlie Hewitt and Sam Ripper Smith will join from Worcester Warriors, with Saracens prop Ralph Adams Hale also with the Scots on a dual registration deal.
Head Coach Peter Richards is excited for the squad to be in place ahead of the new season.
“We’ve got a great bunch of players and the four new signings add extra quality to the squad. Dan and Ewan will bring experience and strength to our front-row, with Matt a real prospect in the back-row and Ben showing great skill to add to the back-line.”
“We are very grateful for the dual registration players who will give us great options throughout the squad, and we can all look forward to our first match against Nottingham on Sunday.”
2016/17 Squad:
IN:
Joe Atkinson (Cornish Pirates) Ifereimi
Boladau (Ospreys) Phil Cringle (US
Carcassonne) George Cullen (Oxford
University) Jack Cullen (Munster Rugby)
Cameron Fenton (Glasgow Warriors)
Hugh Fraser (Edinburgh Rugby) Tom
Galbraith (Edinburgh Rugby) Jonny Harris
(London Irish) Ed Hoadley, Craig Holland
(Cornish Pirates) Devlin Hope (Coventry)
Danny Kenny (Ealing Trailfinders) Dom
McGeekie, Ally Miller (Edinburgh Rugby)
Ben Robbins (Edinburgh Rugby) Eoin
Sheriff (London Irish) Grant Shiells
(Edinburgh Rugby) Jamie Stevenson
(Wasps) Dan Koroi (Rugby Mogliano), Ewan McQuillin (Edinburgh Rugby),
Matt Marley, Connor Hayhow
Dual Registration Players:
Worcester Warriors – Huw Taylor, Charlie Hewitt, Sam Ripper Smith
Saracens- Ralph Adams Hale
Re-signed from last season:
Peter Lydon
Rory Bartle
Neale Patrick
Jason Harries
Matt Williams
David Cherry
Robbie Fergusson
Alec Coombes
Harry Sheppard
OUT:
Mark Bright, Alex Brown, Josh Thomas
Brown, Ben Calder, Will Carrick Smith,
Freddie Clarke, Tinus du Plessis, James
Gibbons, Oli Grove, James Hallam, Matt
Heeks, Craig Jackson, Adam Kwasnicki,
Jimmy Litchfield, Drew Locke, Max
Maidment, Miles Mantella, Lee Millar,
Tyrone Moran, Dan Newton, Evan
Olmstead, Chevvy Pennycook, Kurt
Schonert, Andrew Turner, Chris Walker & Russell Weir
