Jersey Reds have added experienced forward Macauley Cook to the club's 1st XV squad for 2020/21, which now contains 32 players and is - according to Director of Rugby Harvey Biljon - almost complete.
Lock forward Cook, who also has experience of playing in the back row, will move to the Island from Cardiff Blues.
Born in Church Village in South Wales, just 10 miles from Cardiff where he has been part of the Blues’ set-up for a decade, Cook made 167 appearances in the Guinness PRO14 and European competitions and scored 17 tries during this time. The 28-year-old started his career with the Treorchy Zebras and represented Wales at under 20 level in 2011.
Biljon said: "Macauley is someone I'm looking to become a leader among the group - he has the ability to be a stand-out player in the Championship and I want him to come in and enjoy his rugby.
"We know he's an abrasive tough character but I also think he's got a lot to share with the younger players around him and I think he's going to be a great acquisition."
The latest signing will join 15 players from the Reds’ 2019/20 squad, as well as 16 other new faces unveiled during the past week. The club has already confirmed the signings of hookers George Edgson and Harry Doolan, props Ollie Dawe, Jack Higgins and Ciaran Parker, locks Zak Farrance, Shay Kerry and Sean O’Connor, flanker Lewis Wynne, scrum-halves Michael Dowsett and James Elliott, fly-half Sam Leeming and outside backs Jack Roberts, Lesley Klim, Ryan Hutler and Kurt Heatherley.
