Just three days until Nottingham Rugby finally start their long awaited Greene King RFU Championship campaign as they open up proceedings against Ealing Trailfinders on Sunday and the side have added a whopping eight additions that will help bolster the squad over the coming months.

The signings, all of dual-registration, include Shaun Evans, Harri O’Connor and Jac Price from Pro14 outfit Scarlets whilst five more join from Premiership Rugby teams with three in from Sale Sharks, Tom Curtis, Joe Bedlow and Joe Carpenter whilst Karl Gardside joins from Northampton and Kieran Curran from Wasps.

All the players signed will help boost the squad depth over the coming months and although all may not be available at the same time, the ability to dip in and out of their dual signings will significantly help Nottingham get through a packed schedule of ten matches over the next 12 weeks.

Nottingham Head Coach Neil Fowkes who is thankful to those clubs involved said “It’s important for us to bring in these types of players on dual-registration from Premiership-quality sides. It gives us that strength in depth that we’re going to need if we’re going to compete in the league this season.”

Prop Karl Garside from Northampton is a player Nottingham know well after a spell at the club last season, Kieran Curran is a highly rated flanker from Wasps Academy whilst the three players from Sale are all youngsters that are highly thought of at the club.

Centre Joe Bedlow has already made the first team squad this season whilst England U18 full back Carpenter is Leeds born and a former Yorkshire Carnegie Academy player. Fly-Half Tom Curtis already has a link to the city of Nottingham as his dad John, a former Manchester United footballer, also played for Nottingham Forest with 79 league games in two years at the City Ground.

Hooker Shaun Evans has been capped by Wales U20 whilst fellow Scarlets team-mate Jac Price, a second rower, played in the Welsh side that beat the Baby Blacks in 2019. Prop Harri O’Connor is aged just nineteen.

Nottingham will announce their first squad ahead of the new season tomorrow and we’ll have information on Nottingham Sport as soon as it comes in.

*Main image @SaleSharksRugby full back Joe Carpenter comes with big reputation.