London Irish boss Brian Smith today hit out at Leeds prop Kees Lensing for pulling out of an agreement to join the Exiles.

Smith was under the impression Lensing, a free agent following Leeds' relegation from the English Premiership, had signed for his title contenders.

But South African Super 12 outfit the Sharks today issued a statement confirming the giant Namibia front row would be joining them in time for the Currie Cup.

Smith is livid with the 27-year-old's apparent change of heart and is determined to make him honour his agreement to join Irish.

"This is desperately disappointing. Kees has gone back on his word and we are not happy with how he has handled this," Smith told keo.co.za. "I have signed papers from Jason (Smith, Lensing's agent) and I personally shook hands on the deal with Kees about two weeks' ago. To me a man's word is his bond and we intend to hold him to that.

"The deal he had with us would have made him one of the richest prop forwards in the Premiership and we have made plans that include him. But according to reports he has already signed with Rudolf Straeuli at the Sharks. It's very disappointing."

Smith, who has steered Irish to third place in the Premiership table with one game left, insists he remains in the dark about why Lensing performed the u-turn.

"I understand Kees went to Durban at the weekend, but he is now back in England so we are busy trying to get hold of him," he said. "So far that has proved unsuccessful. I guess it says a lot about the character of the person we are dealing with."