Warlingham have made their first big pre-season signing, recruiting South African centre Quentin Coetzer from Rosslyn Park.

"We're delighted to sign Quentin," Tony Doe, manager of last season's London SW4 title-winners, said.

"He's tall, strong and really quick, with tremendous skills sets - Quentin's a great addition to our squad."

Having left National League 3 Rosslyn Park before the end of last season, Coetzer has settled in quickly with the Hamsey Green club, basing himself in Oxted while working as a rugby and cricket coach at Caterham School.

It was at Caterham that Coetzer met Warlingham first XV captain Tom Street, who was quick to snap up Coetzer when he decided not to continue at Rosslyn Park.

Coetzer's South African experience - he grew up playing in the Blue Bulls Academy teams and made a couple of appearances for the Super 14 side's senior XV - has already been called upon at Warlingham.

"I've played a couple of Sevens tournaments with Warlingham, and I am really enjoying it here," said Coetzer, 22, who emerged as one of the stars of the prestigious Dover Sevens tournament, which his new club won.

"It's like you're part of a big family here. You didn't have that at Rosslyn Park.

"Because of changes in the rules on visas, I'm not allowed to play in the National Leagues any more," Johannesburg-born Coetzer said.

"But Warlingham are playing to a good, improving standard, they are ambitious about next season, and they have been really helpful to me in sorting out a work visa for next season, too."

Warlingham officials have been thwarted in their bid to make a couple more signings ahead of the new season, with one nearby club in Kent now paying some players to join them.

"It's frustrating, but it is a problem we have overcome before," a senior Hamsey Green source said.

"One of the clubs we played against last season had a big financial benefactor - when their money ran out, they lost many of their better players."

Warlingham's planning for the new season is focusing on the club's training weekend on August 9-10 at the Hamsey Green ground, where England World Cup-winner Jason Leonard will be conducting some coaching sessions on the Saturday morning.

The training weekend is open for senior players and Warlingham's Academy, from under-16s upwards, and potential new players are welcome.

To reserve your place now, contact Peter Upton on pju@uptonp.co.uk or Tony Doe on bigtone56@hotmail.co.uk.