Diamond raid for Tarus and Ross from France

SALE Sharks have bolstered their back row options with the signing of South African Jono Ross, 26, on a three-year deal.

England-qualified Ross, as revealed in TRP last week, joins from Stade Francais. The Sharks have also signed prop Alexandru Tarus on a two-year contract from Beziers.

Sharks boss Steve Diamond, who retained the services of lock Andrei

Ostrikov last week, said: “Jono is a great signing for us, he’s equally at home at flanker and No.8 and is also a leader on the field.

“His ball-carrying will be a huge asset in the Premiership. Once we knew about his availability we moved quickly to secure his signature.” Also as revealed in the Fissler Files last week, Matt Hopper will leave Harlequins at the end of the current season to join French side Oyonnax.

The centre joined Quins in July 2011 from the Cornish Pirates and went on to represent the England Saxons.

Ryan Edwards has re-signed at Bristol, who have also announced the arrival of four players ahead of next season – Connacht hooker Jason Harris-Wright, Jersey No.8 Nick Haining, Harlequins tighthead Tyler Gendall and Watsonians scrum half Reiss Cullen. Worcester fly-half Ryan Mills has ended speculations over his future by remaining at Sixways while Calum Green and Michael Young have signed Newcastle deals. Doncaster have moved in for Will Owen and Tom Hicks from local rivals Rotherham Titans while Bedford have captured former Welsh international Chris Czekaj for next season and offered new contracts to Camillo Parilli-Ocampo, Josh Buggea and Ed Taylor. Conor Joyce, Seb Nagle-Taylor and Jared Saunders will join Jersey this summer where Nick Selway and Jack Macfarlane penned new deals. Will Davis and James Gibbons stay at Ealing Trailfinders while Gearoid Lyons and Ben Brownlie will remain at Nottingham next term.