Shoguns make double swoop

Zurich Premiership side Bristol Shoguns have made a double signing ahead of the new season.

Former England A scrum-half Peter Richards is joining the west country club from Italian side Benetton Treviso while Wales Under-21 second row Scott Morgan is returning to the Memorial Stadium outfit after a season with Llanelli.

Richards, 24, previously had two seasons at London Irish and three with Harlequins before that.

He has represented England at every level from Under-16 through to England A and went on the England tour in 1998 to Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.

Following the departure of Scotland A scrum-half Ross Blake to neighbours Bath yesterday, Richards will be deputy to Argentina international scrum-half and skipper Agustin Pichot.

"I'm delighted to be joining Bristol Shoguns," said Richards.

"I was looking for a change from Italy and the English Premiership is a higher standard and will give me a bigger challenge."

Morgan, 23, first joined Bristol in the summer of 1997 and became a first-team regular during the 1999-2000 season when he made 28 appearances when Bristol finished their Premiership campaign in sixth place.

"It seems only five minutes ago that I was at Bristol," said Morgan.

"The Memorial Stadium is a great place to play and the fans really get behind you and generate a superb atmosphere."

Morgan has agreed a three-year contract and Richards a two year deal while existing number eight Ben Sturnham and openside flanker Michael Lipman have agreed new two-year contracts and wing Brendon Daniel a new 12-month contract.

New coach Peter Thornburn confirmed the club are still in negotiations for a centre, widely tipped to be All Black Daryl Gibson, but the deal has still to be completed and the player was unlikely to arrive before the start of the season.