Commins joins up at London Irish

Former FNB UCT vice-captain Stu Commins has joined English club London Irish on a four-month trial.

Commins (23) joined Northampton Saints after the 2010 Varsity Cup Final, playing in 17 first-team matches for the club over two seasons – including the epic 2011 Heineken Cup Final against Leinster when he came on as a replacement.

Now the talented scrumhalf – also a former Western Province Under-19 and Under-21 player – has a chance to carve out a career at another highly-rated English club; having played three years of Varsity Cup rugby for the Ikeys between 2008 and 2010.

The Exiles, as London Irish are known, are a popular Aviva Premiership club who finished seventh in the 2011/12 season. They boast the likes of Alex Corbisiero and Jonathan Joseph from the current English set-up, as well as Canadian Jebb Sinclair who is currently playing Currie Cup rugby for Western Province.

In all, London Irish have handed trials to six players, with Commins joining FNB UJ's Shaun Malton (hooker) in the mix – Malton having moved across to London in early July already.

Two Irishmen, Ian Cross and Foster Horan, have also joined the Exiles – from St Helens Rugby League and Leinster Rugby respectively – along with Mike Ward and Michael Worrincy.

Brian Smith, London Irish's Director of Rugby, said: "We have pinpointed these six players as guys we believe deserve an opportunity to train with an Aviva Premiership club.

"They have all stepped up to the challenge and I have so far been impressed with what I have seen from them."