Worcester Warriors have bolstered their squad by signing flanker Tom Harding from New Zealand-provincial side North Harbour.
The flanker's signing is somewhat timely for Worcester. With Pat Sanderson likely to be on England duty for a good portion of the winter, the back row is an area that requires cover.
Harding has represented New Zealand at Under-19 and Under-21 level but, by virtue of his parents, has a British passport and qualifies for England and Wales.
And his arrival follows only a week after that of Tongan winger Aisea Havili who joined the club from Llanelli Scarlets and went straight into the side for the win over Leeds last Friday.
Worcester's director of rugby, John Brain, said: "We've known about Tom for six-to-eight months. His name has come up through various sources. He has a good pedigree and the fact that he doesn't qualify as an overseas player helps.
"I've watched him several times on tape and the reports back from his performances in the NPC are all good.
" He will considerably improve our strength and depth in the back row for the remainder of this season and next."
The club want Harding to begin his Worcester career on November 1 but that is problematic as the flanker has a University final on November 17.
"He's trying to reschedule his exam," said Brain. "But if he can't he'll be here by December 1 at the latest."
When he does arrive, Harding may be thrown straight into the action.
"We had no hesitation in throwing Aisea Havili straight into the side (in the 22-15 defeat of Leeds)," said Brain. "But it all depends on injuries."
The 23-year-old has agreed a deal which will keep him at Sixways until the end of the 2006-2007 season.
And he comes from good rugby stock. His great uncle Rowe Harding captained Wales and the British Lions in the 1920s. Older brother Sam meanwhile plays in the Super 12s for the Canterbury Crusaders and was capped by the All Blacks in 2002.
