Bath yesterday pulled off a transfer coup by signing Wales and British Lions wing Ieuan Evans. Wales' record cap holder has agreed a two-year contract following negotiations with Bath. It is understood that Bath have paid Llanelli around £75,000 to secure his services, while Evans can expect to command a six-figure salary as the Recreation Ground club's biggest recruit in years.

Evans, who has won a record 71 caps for Wales, is set to make his Bath debut in their opening European Cup match at Pontypridd on September 6th.

With Jeremy Davidson safely on board, London Irish yesterday announced their new squad for the season. The club have retained all of their senior players from last year and have been strengthened by the arrival of Irish centre Mark McCall from Dungannon.

London Irish Squad: A Allen, C Bird, J Bishop, N Briers, S Briers, S Burns, N Burrows, D Charles, J Davidson, K Dawson, J Fitzpatrick, P Flood, G Fulcher, G Halpin, R Hennessy, N Hogan, D Humphreys, R Kellam, A Kershaw, M McCall, I McLoughlin, A Meadows, L Mooney, K O'Connell, K O'Kane, M O'Kelly, C O'Shea, D Peters, A Redmond, P Richards, K Spicer, J Stebbings, B Walsh, M Weir, N Woods.