THE signing of French fly half Thierry Lacroix by Harlequins dominated the rugby news in England yesterday. The leading points scorer in the 1995 World Cup has been playing in South Africa for Natal and was lured to the south west London club for a two and a half year contract worth £250,000.
A contributing factor in the move was the fact that Andy Keast, Natal's former coaching director, is now a first team coach at Harlequins.
Lacroix's arrival - his first game will be next week in the top of the table clash with Wasps - coincides with the departure of rugby league men Gary Connolly and Robbie Paul. Harlequins' director of rugby, Dick Best, said that Lacroix filled a gap, but implied that he would not be the last signing this season.
All the comings and goings at The Stoop must leave Michael Corcoran wondering where he stands. The Irish winger moved from London Irish during the summer with high hopes and a prodigious goal kicking talent.
However he has failed to secure a regular first team spot, and with the arrival of Lacroix, himself a noted goal kicker, it looks as though Corcoran is no longer part of Best's plans.
Keith Woods obviously is though. With the return of Jason Leonard, the hooker relinquishes the captaincy but continues to look like one of the few Irish candidates for a place on the forthcoming Lions tour.
Woods showed that it is possible to regain your green jersey. Niall Malone must have similar ambitions and, having earned a recall to the Leicester side that visits Harlequins, he will no doubt be asking for a few words of advice on his trip to the capital. Malone is named as fly half for Leicester, in place of the injured Rob Liley, in a side which also sees the return of former England winger Rory Underwood.
Francois Pienaar makes his eagerly anticipated debut for Saracens alongside fellow legends Michael Lynagh and Philippe Sella.
South Africa's World Cup winning captain will slot into a back row which also contains Tony Diprose and Richard Hill, who are on the verge of breaking through the England senior side. Most observers expect Pienaar to take a few games to become fully conversant with the pace and power of the league, but he has been given a low key introduction to it.
Saracens' international old boys and their teammates face strugglers Orrell, who have won only once all season and lie perched at the bottom of the English first division.
The Merseyside club have also lost former England international winger Nigel He slop who is a policeman, through work commitments. The two clubs lying directly above Orrell, London Irish and West Hartlepool, face each other at Sunbury.
With only a win apiece, victory is vital for both clubs if they are to stand a chance of escaping relegation.
The Exiles have David Humphreys return at stand off after recent ankle problems although, after his lamentable club form for most of this season, whether that is much of a morale boost is highly questionable.
More likely to provoke a smile among the long suffering London Irish supporters, is the healing of Gabriel Fulcher's hand injury.
The international lock goes back into the second row, although there is still no place in the pack for the out of favour Victor Costello.
Liam Botham stands poised to make his debut for the visitors. The son of the former England cricket star is named in a West Hartlepool squad that is missing their player cum director of rugby Mark Ring, due to a shoulder injury. Missing from the Northampton team that tomorrow takes on league leaders Wasps is Jonathan Bell.
There is also a question mark over their captain and Scottish international Gregor Townsend. For their part, Wasps have no such problems as they hid to retain their place at the top of English club rugby.
