Twenty new recruits for Rotherham Titans

Coach Justin Burnell has brought in players who’ve experienced the Premiership and top European competitions. Gloucester’s highly rated second row forward Tom Hicks, 24, and Miles Normandale from Cardiff Blues, have agreed to join as have prop Joe Rees who’s played for Worcester Warriors and Ospreys.

Burnell’s policy of ensuring that Rotherham have a powerful pack is also seen by the recruitment of lock Ollie Currie from London Irish, hooker Joe Graham from Yorkshire Carnegie, back row forward Buster Lawrence from Moseley and prop Tom Williams, now in the play-offs with Bedford, and described by the Titans’ coach as the best loose-head prop in the league.

Other new forwards are Ian Williams, a 22 stone prop from Oxford University, and Danny Herriot, another prop who played recently against Rotherham for Jersey.

Burnell has also signed two new scrum halves George Tressider and Matt Dunham from Leicester Tigers and Yorkshire Carnegie respectively.

Nine of last season’s squad are staying, among them fly half Will Robinson and flanker Tom Calladine.

“I am sure our supporters will be happy with the recruits I have signed and I am confident that we will be able to give the Championship a really good go next year,” said Burnell who is also hoping to arrange loan deals for another four players from Premiership clubs.

So far the Rotherham Titans squad is 31 strong and it reports back for pre-season training on June 6.