WORCESTER Warriors have strengthened their midfield by signing Argentinian international centre Miguel Avra-movic on a one-year contract.
The 25-year-old, who has been playing for the Alumni Rugby Club in Argentina, will join up with the Warriors in mid-July following his country's World Cup qualifiers against Chile and Uruguay.
Six-foot-plus and 15 stone, Avramovic, who has three Test caps, can play at both inside and outside centre -- and it was this versatility that prompted Warriors director of rugby John Brain to secure his services.
Brain believes his new signing is well equipped to be a hit in the Guinness Premiership and intends to keep a close eye on his development over the course of his contract.
He said: "We were looking for a little more depth at centre and preferably someone who could cover at both 12 and 13.
"We have got a number of 12s, and Miguel can do that, but he has also played at 13, which is where we felt we needed a bit more cover. He will be a strong addition to our squad.
"Also, he is a young, quality player who has played a little bit of international rugby and is involved in the Argentina squad for the World Cup qualifiers later this month. He is very much part of his national team and I think he is an emerging player who could do well in the Premiership.
"He is very physical -- a large, powerful man -- and has a good make-up for the Premiership. He has been given a one-year contract and we want to see how he develops over that period."
Meanwhile, former Worcester scrum-half Clive Stuart-Smith will end his England exile on Saturday after being named as Saxons skipper for the Barclays Churchill Cup Plate final against Ireland `A'.
The Llanelli Scarlets' scrum-half starts his first tour game at Edmonton's Commonwealth Stadium, two years after his last effort at captaincy ended in an historic Grand Slam for England's Under-21s.
Stuart-Smith, missed the opening game against Scotland because of a leg strain.
Saxons head coach, Callard said: "Clive has been in the wilderness for two years and it's right to bring him back."
Worcester's Kai Horstmann is picked at number eight.
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