Mayhew backs big brother Richie for top-flight

ON-LOAN Harlequins signing Mike Mayhew believes his brother, Yorkshire Carnegie captain Richard, should be back playing in the Premiership, too.

The 30-year-old Kiwi hooker has arrived at the Twickenham Stoop on a three-month deal as injury cover for Rob Buchanan and Joe Gray, leaving his elder sibling behind in Leeds.

“Richie is a hugely under-rated player and really should be a starting Prem flanker. Yorkshire are lucky to have him,” Mayhew said. “He’s doing a good job as captain and is very well-respected in the changing room.”

The Mayhew brothers played together at Newcastle, while Mike also has previous top-flight rugby with London Irish.

And now he’s looking forward to the next chapter of his career. “Harlequins is a great club with a lot of history and they’ve got a class squad. I want to get out there and prove myself to all involved,” he said.

England U20s Max Wright and Max Green have also left Carnegie, to join Bath. While both will be made available to the Championship outfit, it is questionable that an already wafer-thin squad can cope with the loss of three first-choice players.

The hope is that by offloading Mayhew, one of the club’s bigger earners, funds will be freed up to bring in a recognised flyhalf.

Mayhew, though, does not believe there is any real cause for concern.

“It’s a bit of a re-building year due to a few cuts in sponsorship, which has been hard on the coaches and players. But I think the club is still in a good spot and, in the next year or two, will make a run for the Premiership when the money comes in.”

Sale flanker Laurence Pearce has joined French Pro D2 side Stade Montois.

Wasps confirmed the signing of South Africa flanker Nizaam Carr and Australian hooker Nathan Charles on three-month contracts.

Northampton lock David Ribbans has signed a deal to stay at Franklin’s Gardens until 2020.