Worcester Warriors sealed their fourth recruit for next season yesterday when they announced French full-back Nicolas Le Roux will be joining the club.

The 28-year-old arrives at Sixways from French top 16 side Brive and was part of the team that knocked Warriors out of the European Challenge Cup last October.

A former sevens international Le Roux, who was recommended by Worcester centre Thomas Lombard, opted to join Worcester despite interest from London Irish and newly-promoted Bristol.

He has been brought in to challenge regular full-back Thinus Delport, who has been erroneously linked with a move back to Gloucester, and is the latest in a string of quality backs to reinforce John Brain's team.

Scrum-half Andy Gomarsall has already moved from Kingsholm, while stand-off Shane Drahm left Northampton Saints on the last day of the season and both will add a new attacking flair to Worcester's undoubted forward power. Hooker Chris Fortey, from Gloucester, is the other new signing.

Two Midlands One clubs, Whitchurch and Longton, will play their league rugby in North One next season.

Whitchurch and Longton have been given level transfers into the equivalent northern league to avoid disruption further down the pyramid structure in the Midlands Leagues caused by the relegation of three Midlands clubs - Rugby Lions, Dudley Kingswinford and Bedford Athletic - from National League Three North into Midlands One.

Level transfers were introduced 12 months ago to reduce the cascade effect whereby the relegation of several clubs from one geographical area could mean as many as half the clubs in a 12-club league further down the pyramid being relegated.

If Whitchurch and Longton had not been level-transferred, two additional clubs would have needed to be relegated from Midlands One with potential consequences throughout the Midlands Leagues.

Whitchurch and Longton were level transferred on a geographical basis because they are the closest Midlands clubs, calculated on a mileage basis, to those who will play in North One next season.

Shirley-based Old Yardleians have also been level-transferred from Midlands Three West (South) to Midlands Three West (North).