London Irish have confirmed their squad ahead of the 2017/18 Aviva Premiership season.
The Exiles welcome 11 new faces to the club including Scotland international Gordon Reid, double European Rugby Champions Cup winner Petrus Du Plessis and Fijian international winger Napolioni Nalaga.
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Georgian international Lasha Lomidze and Super Rugby winner Jake Schatz bolster the back row, while Samoan international prop Manasa Saulo, and Australian capped hooker Saia Fainga’a compete for a place in the front row.
Giant lock Teofilo Paulo and versatile back Luke McLean both join from Benetton Treviso, with scrum-half Ben Meehan arriving from Super Rugby outfit Melbourne Rebels. Former Gloucester hooker Darren Dawidiuk augments the front row having made 145 appearances for the Cherry and Whites.
Director of rugby Nick Kennedy has also added to his backroom set-up with the appointment of kicking coach Charlie Hodgson, scrum coach Matthew Ferguson and psychologist Mike Roberts.
Capped 38 times by England, all-time record Premiership top points scorer Charlie Hodgson brings a wealth of experience to the coaching roster, while former England Women and London Welsh assistant coach Ferguson joins the club with immediate effect.
TRANSFERS
INS: Darren Dawidiuk (Gloucester Rugby), Petrus Du Plessis (Saracens), Saia Fainga’a (Brumbies), Lasha Lomidze (Krasny Yar), Ben Meehan (Melbourne Rebels), Luke McLean (Benetton Treviso), Napolioni Nalaga (Lyon), Teofilo Paulo (Benetton Treviso), Gordon Reid (Glasgow Warriors), Manasa Saulo (Toulon), Jake Schatz (Melbourne Rebels)
OUTS: Tom Court (Retired), Darren Allinson, Gerrard Ellis, Tevita Koloamatangi, Luke Narraway, George Robson, Jerry Sexton, Jebb Sinclair, Joe Trayfoot
London Irish 2017/18 squad
*Denotes internationals
FORWARDS: Lovejoy Chawatama, Mike Coman, Blair Cowan*, Sebastian De Chaves, Darren Dawidiuk, Petrus Du Plessis, Harry Elrington, Saia Fainga’a*, Ben Franks*, Conor Gilsenan, Todd Gleave, Danny Hobbs-Awoyemi, Ollie Hoskins, Will Lloyd, Lasha Lomidze*, Josh McNally, Senitiki Nayalo, Max Northcote Green, David Paice*, Richard Palframan, Teofilo Paulo*, Dave Porecki, Gordon Reid*, Manasa Saulo*, Jake Schatz, Tom Smallbone, Ofisa Treviranus*
BACKS: Tommy Bell, Theo Brophy Clews, Joe Cokanasiga, Tom Fowlie, Ciaran Hearn*, Alex Lewington, James Marshall, Brendan McKibbin, Luke McLean*, Ben Meehan, Fergus Mulchrone, Napolioni Nalaga*, Topsy Ojo*, Ben Ransom, Scott Steele, Aseli Tikoirotuma*, Greig Tonks*, Johnny Williams