Exiles swoop for duo

London Irish today followed up the signing of England World Cup star Mike Catt by recruiting two more international players.

Australian Scott Staniforth and Samoan Peter Poulos have agreed to join the Exiles in time for next season.

Staniforth, a wing or centre who has won three caps for Australia, will link up with Irish from the New South Wales Waratahs.

And his fellow 26-year-old Poulos, who played for Samoa against England in the World Cup last autumn, will move to Irish following a season playing in Japan.

Staniforth said: “The club have some outstanding individual players that I am looking forward to working with and helping us compete for a top three place in next season’s Zurich Premiership.”

Irish managing director Conor O’Shea added: “Over the past fortnight, we have announced the signing of seven players, all of whom have won representative honours.

“They represent a serious and necessary improvement in the quality of our squad for next season.

“The signings of Peter and Scott are not short-term. Both players are young enough to integrate into our current squad and as they mature, become a formidable force.”

Irish have failed to secure Heineken Cup qualification for next season following an eighth place finish in the Premiership, but a major rebuilding programme is well under way.