Pontypool RFC is pleased to announce prop Tom Piper as the latest summer signing, from Indigo Premiership runners-up Newport RFC.
The tight-head has been brought to the club to add his experience and tactical guile to the front row.
Piper started out at Caerphilly RFC, Newport HSOB RFC and Llanharan RFC before earning a move to the Black and Ambers in 2015.
He impressed at Rodney Parade becoming a mainstay in the front row and went on to make 115 appearances, scoring two tries.
Head coach Leighton Jones wants Piper to pass that experience on to younger members of the front row.
The boss said: “The last couple of seasons we know that we haven’t had strength in depth at tight-head so it was a key area of recruitment.
“I actually played against Tom at the back-end of my career and he is a decent scrummager and he’ll bring that bit of experience to the front row.
“We’ll be looking for him to bring his experience from the Premiership and his technical knowledge of front row play and pass that on to the younger boys.”
Piper, whose last appearance for Newport came in the 24-17 victory over Swansea RFC in March, said: “I’m looking forward to joining such a prestigious and historical club and keen to get the club back to the Premiership. It’s a challenge that I’m really looking forward to.”
