Leicester Tigers have added international forwards Owen Finegan and Mefin Davies to their squad for next season.
Finegan, 35, will arrive on a short-term contract to provide experienced competition in the squad during the Rugby World Cup period in the autumn.
At 6ft 7in and 18st 7lb, Finegan has played at second row and blindside flanker, gaining 56 international caps for Australia during his time with ACT Brumbies. He captained the Brumbies to Super 12 victory in 2004 and played in the 1999 World Cup Final.
He has since gained Guinness Premiership experience with Newcastle Falcons before linking up with Leinster this season.
Hooker Davies, 34, gained a wealth of experience in Wales with Dunvant, Neath, Pontypridd, Celtic Warriors and Ospreys before a move to Gloucester and he has been an integral part of the squad at Kingsholm which topped the Guinness Premiership this season, featuring in 18 league games. He was also part of the Cherry & Whites matchday squad for Saturday's Guinness Premiership Final against Tigers, appearing as a second-half replacement.
Davies has gained 38 caps for Wales since his debut in 2001 and captained his country against Romania in 2003.
Tigers forwards coach Richard Cockerill, who will take charge of the team at the start of next season before the arrival of new head coach Marcelo Loffreda, said: "Owen Finegan can cover a number of positions in the pack and he has just the sort of experience and leadership that we will need when we have so many senior players away at the World Cup at the start of next season. That experience is important to have around the squad, not just on the pitch on matchday, but also in training.
"Mefin Davies has also achieved a lot in the game but he still has huge ambition. He has captained club and country, he is a very consistent performer, he is a very good hooker and very good at the set-piece. He will provide experience in the middle of the scrum and provide good competition for places."
Finegan, 35, will arrive on a short-term contract to provide experienced competition in the squad during the Rugby World Cup period in the autumn.
At 6ft 7in and 18st 7lb, Finegan has played at second row and blindside flanker, gaining 56 international caps for Australia during his time with ACT Brumbies. He captained the Brumbies to Super 12 victory in 2004 and played in the 1999 World Cup Final.
He has since gained Guinness Premiership experience with Newcastle Falcons before linking up with Leinster this season.
Hooker Davies, 34, gained a wealth of experience in Wales with Dunvant, Neath, Pontypridd, Celtic Warriors and Ospreys before a move to Gloucester and he has been an integral part of the squad at Kingsholm which topped the Guinness Premiership this season, featuring in 18 league games. He was also part of the Cherry & Whites matchday squad for Saturday's Guinness Premiership Final against Tigers, appearing as a second-half replacement.
Davies has gained 38 caps for Wales since his debut in 2001 and captained his country against Romania in 2003.
Tigers forwards coach Richard Cockerill, who will take charge of the team at the start of next season before the arrival of new head coach Marcelo Loffreda, said: "Owen Finegan can cover a number of positions in the pack and he has just the sort of experience and leadership that we will need when we have so many senior players away at the World Cup at the start of next season. That experience is important to have around the squad, not just on the pitch on matchday, but also in training.
"Mefin Davies has also achieved a lot in the game but he still has huge ambition. He has captained club and country, he is a very consistent performer, he is a very good hooker and very good at the set-piece. He will provide experience in the middle of the scrum and provide good competition for places."
