Nottingham Rugby have signed Australian flanker Ashley Elphinston on a one-month trial.

Elphinston has represented the Wallabies at schoolboy, Under-21 and sevens level, and could make his debut against Leeds on Sunday.

"We have done quite a bit of research and analysed DVDs of Ash playing and he looks like a quality player," director of rugby Glenn Delaney said.

"His style of play fits in perfectly to what we are trying to achieve."

Elphinston was registered in time to face Coventry last Sunday, but the game was called off because of a frozen pitch.

"Last week was a bit of a whirlwind and we managed to get him registered for the Coventry game but that obviously got cancelled due to the frost," Delaney added.

"Ash will get the benefit of a longer period of training with the team this week and he will be available for selection for what is a massive game this weekend."

Elphinston arrived in Nottingham last Monday, and was reunited with an old friend.

"I knew (scrum-half) Tim Usasz from my time at GPS in Australia and he couldn't praise Nottingham enough, both the city and the rugby club.

"I got straight into it at training last week and the standard looks very high, I just can't wait to get out on the field.

"It was pretty cold when I arrived but I am starting to get used to that now although they tell me I haven't seen anything yet."

Meanwhile, back row forward Gareth McComb has been released by the club.

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