Connacht sign ex-Scottish captain

Connacht have signed ex-Scottish captain Eric Peters.

The signing of the number eight, capped 29 times by Scotland, comes two weeks after the province announced that they had secured the services of former Australian international lock Warwick Waugh.

Connacht coach Steph Nel said that the signing of 33-year-old Peters was another significant development for the side.

"The average age of our squad is just over 22 and in order to bring on and develop young talent you need experience around them. Eric Peters will provide that and a lot more to Connacht and his signing is a major boost," said Nel.

Peters won his first cap against Canada in 1995 before going on play in the World Cup in South

Africa. He was made vice-captain of Scotland in the 1998/99 season and the following year captained them against Italy.

Peters has toured New Zealand, Australia and South Africa with Scotland and also participated in this summer¹s tour of the USA.

He spent seven seasons at Bath where he won the League Championship, Pilkington Cup and European Cup, having joined them from Cambridge University where he won two Blues and was captain in 1992.

He won a European Shield medal with Harlequins two seasons ago and in February this year he joined Rotherham and helped them win the First Division title and the Powergen Shield.

Connacht will play the first of three pre-season warm-up matches against Bristol Shoguns at the Galway Sportsground on Wednesday (6pm) before travelling to take on Warren Gatland¹s Wasps at High Wycombe on Sunday afternoon.

They then host Munster at the Sportsground on Friday week, August 23, at 3pm.