The Cornish Pirates have made a further addition to their squad for the 2012-13 Championship campaign by bringing Welsh back Tom Riley to Penzance.
The 27-year-old centre was released by Newport-Gwent Dragons at the end of last season, after spending three seasons with the RaboDirect PRO12 outfit.
Born in Pontypridd, Riley began his career with his home-town club and subsequently turned out for Cardiff Blues and Newport RFC. He was brought to the Dragons as an understudy for injured players in the early stages of the 2009-10 season, and did well enough to earn a contract until this summer.
Riley, a former carpet-fitter with a wiry physique, stands 6ft 1in tall and is said to have a fine turn of pace. He has represented Wales at Under-18, Under-19 and Under-21 level, and at sevens rugby.
The Welshman will join two other recently recruited centres, Junior Fatialofa and Alex Cheeseman, in the Pirates’ squad for next season.
Fatialofa will be returning for a second spell with the club, after serving Exeter Chiefs and Bristol, while Cheeseman has come from Wasps via a dual-registration deal with Henley Hawks.
Former Moseley, Worcester and Coventry second-row forward David Lyons will be plying his trade in Penzance next season, while fly-half Kieran Hallett, prop Ben Prescott, and back-row forwards Adam Clayton and Gary Johnson are also on their way to the Pirates.
Plymouth Albion will take on Cornish All Blacks in a pre-season friendly on Saturday, August 4, at Brickfields instead of Polson Bridge, as reported last week. Polson Bridge will host a training session on July 12, involving players from both clubs.
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