PONTYPOOL have bolstered their pack with the signing of SSE Swalec Championship title winner Richard East.

The 31-year-old lock heads to Pooler after helping Merthyr become champions last season, securing a spot in the Principality Premiership.

Pontypool head coach Leighton Jones believes that East, who previously played rugby league for South Wales Scorpions, will add steel and experienced to his forwards.

“Richard’s arrival is a massive step forward in solidifying our forwards setup for next season,” said Jones.

“Depth in the second row has been a weak point for the last few seasons and with the likes of Elliott Ferriman unavailable due to injury for the foreseeable future, it was vital we filled that gap with an experienced head.

“Richard is an aggressive, tough and determined player who very much plays the Pontypool way. He has got stuck straight into the action at training and I have no doubt that he will play a key role in us achieving our objectives in the coming seasons.”

For East, joining Pooler represents an opportunity to play alongside a team who impressed him greatly when standing on the opposite side of the pitch as an opponent to the men in red, white and black hoops last season.

“I already knew how much of a formidable team Pontypool RFC had assembled and how well organised the club is both on and off the field based on the duels of last season,” said East.

“So when the coaching staff first registered their interest in me joining the team and with Pooler being a club with such great tradition, it was an easy decision for me to make in making this club my new rugby home.

“I am massively enjoying the experience thus far and I am working exceptionally hard in training.

"My aim is to break my way into the team and I hope that my skill set and attributes can contribute to this fantastic club achieving its dream of bringing silverware back to Pontypool Park next season.”