Front row commit for Welsh

 

The front row quartet have all agreed new deals with the Exiles and they join those forwards already under contract to the club for next season; Richard Thorpe, Ben West, Ricky Reeves, Jack Gilding, Eddie Aholelei, Josh McNally and Jesse Liston.

 

The announcement follows the previous  confirmation that backs Seb Jewell, Alan Awcock, Nic Reynolds, James Lewis and Will Robinson have also committed to London Welsh.

 

Loosehead Trevett was ever-present during the Exiles' 2013/14 Championship winning campaign, and has racked up 41 appearances for the club in total, scoring an impressive seven tries. Trevett joined Welsh from Cardiff Blues having come through Cardiff RFC. He gained representative honours for Wales at Under-19.

 

Britton joined Welsh last year having come through the Gloucester Academy, before going on to amass Premiership and European experience at Kingsholm. The hooker represented England at the U20 IRB Junior World Championships in 2011 and 2012, and was a member of the side which won the Grand Slam in 2011 and the 2012 Six Nations title. Britton has made 18 appearances for Welsh this season in all matches, scoring two tries.

 

Hooker Morris played a leading role in the Exiles' 2013/14 Championship success and even made four appearances for Welsh in the club's Championship winning season of 2011/12, while on loan from Wasps. In total, Morris has made 55 appearances for London Welsh, scoring three tries. He was also a member of England's historic IRB U20 Junior World Championship winning side of 2013.

 

Cooper is a talented young tighthead who has made 16 appearances in all matches in his debut season at London Welsh, having joined from Bedford Blues. He learnt his trade under former Blue, Mike Guess, at Cambridge RFC, before making the step up to the Blues and the Championship in January 2012.

 

London Welsh Director of Rugby Steve Lewis said: "We know from experience that the scrum is a fiercely contested aspect of the game in the Championship and a competitive front row is essential, so the announcement is hugely significant as we prepare to mount our challenge for an immediate return to the Premiership.

 

"There is a substantial amount of experience in these re-signings and also in the group already in contract, and this will be essential next season.

 

"Our forward pack is beginning to take shape and we will be able to announce some exciting new additions soon.”

 

Trevett, Morris, Thorpe, West, Jewell, Awcock, Lewis and Robinson were all part of the club's 2013/14 Championship winning season, while Jewell, Lewis and Morris also featured in Welsh's Championship success of 2011/12.