SCOTT STEELE and Will Lloyd have signed two-year contract extensions with London Irish, the club has announced.
“I am pleased that Will and Scott have both committed their future to the club,” said Glenn Delaney, Exiles’ head of rugby operations.
“They both add real value to our squad, and it is important that we continue to build and strengthen our ranks for the future.”
Scrum-half Steele has made 36 appearances for Irish since signing on from Leicester Tigers in July 2014.
The 22-year-old, who featured for Scotland in the 2013 Under-20s Six Nations championship and Junior World Cup, was named the club’s Young Player of the Year in his debut season.
“I’m excited to extend my contract at London Irish,” said Steele, who has also represented his country at U17 and U18 levels.
“I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at the club so far. This season hasn’t gone the way we wanted it to, however, with the spirit we have among the players and staff, I am confident the team can remain in the league this season.”
Team-mate and second-row Lloyd, meanwhile, has done enough in just seven games to persuade Exiles’ hierarchy to tie him down to a new deal.
The player, 25, only arrived at Irish from ITM Cup side Auckland earlier this season.
With Super Rugby experience under his belt having turned out for the Blues, Lloyd adds considerable stock to the club’s engine room.
Breaking News: @LiRFC re-sign @ScottSteele247 and Will Lloyd #StrongerTogether https://t.co/9VdH9pCDLk pic.twitter.com/QGiA4G9BaJ
— London Irish (@londonirish) March 1, 2016
He said: “The club has everything in place to move forward over the coming seasons and this is something I cannot wait to be involved in.
“We are under no illusions of the task facing us for the remainder of this season, as a group we will continue to be committed and work hard and that should see results start to go our way.”
The news comes just 24 hours after Irish confirmed the signing of fly-half Greig Tonks from Edinburgh.
But it is announced on the same afternoon hooker Tom Cruse revealed he is to leave at the end of the season, where he will join Aviva Premiership rivals Wasps.
He said: “I am delighted to be joining Wasps next season.
“Having met with Dai Young (director of rugby), the ambition and direction of the club is clear to see and the opportunity to be part of that going forward is one I am very much looking forward to as a player.
“I would like to thank everyone at London Irish for their support and will continue to give everything I have until the end of the season.”
