Saracens snap up Marsters

Saracens have signed Swansea's New Zealand-born prop Johnny Marsters on a two-year contract. He teams up for a second time with the new Saracens coach, Wayne Shelford, who he played under for three seasons at North Harbour, after spending the last year with Swansea.

"I was looking at signing for Swansea for another couple of seasons when I heard that Wayne was coming to the UK," Marsters said. "He played a big part in me coming to the club. To have the chance to train and play alongside the likes of Richard Hill, Kyran Bracken, Thomas Castaignède and Tim Horan is really good.

"Next season is going to be a great challenge for us after last season's results," added the 29-year-old front row who has also played for the Natal Sharks, "and I can't wait to get started."

The Vicarage Road side were further boosted with the news that lock Kris Chesney has signed a new three-year contract. The 28-year-old has been with the club for the past seven years.

The continent's second-tier competition, the Parker Pen Shield, has been revamped. The 32 teams will compete for the Parker Pen Challenge Cup in a knock-out competition with rounds of two legs.

Every club will be guaranteed four games as all first-round losers will enter the Parker Pen Shield. There are 16 seeded teams, who will all play an unseeded team in the first round on the weekends of October 11-13 and 18-20.

A starting place in the XV for the Test against Chile on Saturday was all the motivation the England Counties side required as they cruised to a 69-10 victory over a Southern Regional XV in Concepción late on Tuesday.

The visitors scored 11 tries, with two by the No 8 Shaun Brady earning him the man of the match award. The London Welsh hooker Gregg Botterman also went over twice.