Pertemps Bees have completed the signing of winger Tom Beim, one of the deadliest try-scorers in European rugby.
The 29-year-old former Sale and Gloucester player has agreed to return to English rugby on a part-time contract after two years with Italian club Arix Viadana.
Beim's prolific try-scoring with Sale, for whom he scored 41 tries in only 59 games, secured him a place on England's Southern Hemisphere 'Tour of Hell' in 1998 where he won his two caps against New Zealand.
Beim continued his tryscoring exploits with Gloucester, for whom he ran in 24 tries, before he moved to Viadana two years ago, scoring 31 tries in two seasons.
"The fact that Tom has a proven record as a try-scorer was the main reason I signed him," said Phil Maynard, Bees' director of rugby.
"He's run tries in both in the Premiership and in the top-flight in Italy and I hope that he will form an effective strike-force with Nick Baxter.
"Tom can also play at fullback or outside centre which gives me more options in selection and which will put some of our backs under pressure.
"We haven't really had competition for places in some positions for the last two couple of seasons but Tom's ability to play in more than one position means that there will be no room for complacency next season."
