Bedford Blues have secured the services of loosehead prop Laurence Ovens from Premiership outfit Newcastle Falcons.
Ovens joins Championship outfit for 2010/11 season
Bedford Blues have secured the services of loosehead prop Laurence Ovens from Premiership outfit Newcastle Falcons for the 2010/11 Championship season.
The 24-year-old arrives at Goldington Road hot on the heels of former England U18 prop Robin Boot, who joined the Blues from London Welsh last week.
Ovens, who at six foot one weighs in at 17 stone ten pounds, learned his trade with Bath before moving to Kingston Park at the start of the 2009/10 season.
After making his first team debut as an 18-year-old in the 2004 Heineken Cup, he spent five seasons with his hometown club prior to joining Newcastle.
He represented the Falcons on 15 occasions last season, scoring two tries along the way.
Reference
"Laurence has come to us with a glowing reference from Nick Walshe and Chris Goodman who both enjoyed playing with him when they were at Bath," Blues director of rugby Mike Rayer told the club's website.
"We tried to sign Laurence last year on Nick's recommendation before he moved to Newcastle so I am delighted that he has chosen to join us this season.
"Laurence's signing significantly adds further quality and depth to the squad. Competition for starting places is exactly what we want and from what I've seen so far in training there are going to be some pretty intense battles for their respective jerseys."
Blues fans will get their first glimpse of the new look squad when Premiership outfits Northampton Saints and Saracens visit Goldington Road for pre-season friendlies on Friday August 13and Tuesday August 17 respectively.
