London Scottish are pleased to add local lad and centre Dan Barnes and tighthead prop Xavier Valentine ahead of the 2019/20 Greene King IPA Championship campaign.
Centre Dan Barnes will make the short switch to the Exiles for next season after spending the last two seasons with Rosslyn Park and Henley Hawks in National 1 & 2 respectively.
The St Marys University student joins after a year with Henley Hawks where he has been a stand out performer. The former Wasps academy player represented London Irish at the Singha 7s at Franklin’s Gardens in 2017.
Barnes was eager to get stuck in with the Scots next season.
“I am really excited to have signed my first senior professional contract here in London and even more excited for it to be with London Scottish with the amount of talent and experience in both the squad and coaching staff. After playing many games in the national leagues I jumped at the opportunity to ply my trade in the Championship. I can’t wait to get stuck into hard work during pre-season with the rest of the squad and meet the more Scottish supporters throughout the season.”
Joining Barnes will be highly talented front rower Xavier Valentine.
Valentine is currently finishing his degree at Leeds Beckett University and will join the Scots after completing his studies this summer.
Valentine was an integral part of Leeds Beckett’s BUCS Super Rugby Campaign this year as they made it all the way to the final to play Hartpury. Valentine was picked to start at tighthead yet he and his fellow Beckett students fell to Hartpury at Twickenham 45-27.
Last season Valentine appeared for Yorkshire Carnegie against London Scottish in the British & Irish Cup. This season Valentine was called into the England Students training squad in January.
The tighthead who used to play rugby for Diss Rugby Club is excited to join Scottish.
“I am excited to have signed with London Scottish and I look forward to meeting up with the squad for pre-season to work hard in preparation for the start of next season. It was a lovely way to finish my time with Leeds Beckett playing in the BUCS Super Rugby Final at Twickenham and I am ready for the next challenge.”
Director of Rugby is pleased to add Barnes and Valentine for the 2019/20 season.
“London Scottish is pleased to have added both Dan and Xavier. Dan has been on our radar for a bit of time now and we are glad to finally add him to our squad. He is a strong runner with good skills. I am sure he is capable of making the step up to the Championship next season.”
Morris continued, “Xavier has been very impressive this season in BUCS Super Rugby for a very strong Leeds Beckett side. He is a good scrummager and adds a lot around the field. We are looking forward to working with him next season and helping him develop.”
2️⃣ more sign with the Scots for next season ✍?
Centre @Danbarnes012 joins from @rosslynpark ?
Tighthead @Xaviervalen98 joins from @LeedsBeckettRFC ??
Full announcement ?? https://t.co/T73m0HNyVV pic.twitter.com/Sm3UifUVit
— London Scottish FC (@LSFCOfficial) April 23, 2019
