London Welsh have augmented their squad ahead of their first season as a full time professional club with the signings of Nick Runciman, Darrell Ball, Tom Audley, Tom Rock, Alex Walker, Pete Murchie and Ed Lewis-Pratt.

Runciman, 22, arrives at Old Deer Park after enjoying three seasons at Sixways, having joined the Warriors from Gloucester in 2005. The scrum half made his Worcester debut in the Guinness Premiership clash with Newcastle Falcons in April 2006, an occasion he marked with a try, before going on to make 12 appearances in total for Worcester.

Runciman has represented England at U16, U18 and U21 levels making three appearances in the 2006 U21 Six Nations, and was also a member of the RFU Junior National Academy.

Ball, 27, joins the Dragons fresh from his try scoring Man of the Match exploits for the Army at Twickenham last May in their annual showpiece clash with the Navy. The Army coming out on top 22-11 under the captaincy of London Welsh flanker Mark Lee.

Having previously played for Newbury Blues, the lock/back row forward makes the short move to Old Deer Park from near neighbours London Scottish. Ball capped his one season with the club, in which he made 18 appearances and scoring one try, by scooping the awards for Player of the Year and Supporters Player of the Year.

Audley, 22, joins London Welsh from Saracens, having made two appearances for the Guinness Premiership side since joining them from Mill Hill School in 2005. A first team regular for Saracens in the A League, the flanker made his first team debut in the EDF Energy Cup win against Wasps in December 2006

Outside centre Rock, 24, joins the Dragons from Leeds Carnegie for whom he made his debut in September 2002 against London Irish. The former England U19 international is a product of the Leeds Academy and returned to the club in 2006 after enjoying a spell with Otley.

A regular fixture in the Leeds side that won promotion back to the Premiership in 2006/07, Rock notched up 13 tries, making him the club’s second highest try scorer that season. He went onto mark Leeds’ return to the top flight with a try against Gloucester on the opening day of last years Premiership season.

Walker, 22, joins London Welsh on loan from Newport Gwent Dragons. Having gained a Senior Academy contract at the start of the 2005/06 season, the scrum-half went on to make 29 appearances for the Dragons following his debut against Glasgow in September 2006. He also brings European experience to Old Deer Park, having made six appearances in the Heineken Cup.

Newport born Walker began his rugby career at the age of eight playing Mini rugby for Newport High School Old Boys, before being selected to represent Newport Youth and earn a place on the Dragons Junior Academy. He has also gained honours with Wales at U18 and U19 levels and was also selected for U21 training squads.

Walker’s arrival at Welsh will see him renew his half back partnership with another ex-Dragon, fly-half Aled Thomas, who has also made the switch from Rodney Parade to Old Deer Park this summer.

Fullback/Centre Peter Murchie, 22, began has rugby career with Bath, spending three seasons at the Academy and gaining A League experience. He joined the National League One side Waterloo at the start of the 2006/07 season, going onto make 24 appearances and scoring five tries before joining Pertemps Bees, making 15 appearances for the club last season and scoring one try. He has also represented England at U18 and University levels respectively.

And finally, Lewis-Pratt, 20, will strengthen London Welsh’s full back options after joining the club from London Irish. A member of the Irish Academy, Lewis-Pratt has gained Guinness Premiership A League experience as well as representative honours with England at U16 and U19.

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