Launceston sign Lewsey and Luff

Scrum-half Ed Lewsey was Plymouth Albion player of the season in 2007/8

Launceston have signed winger Jason Luff and scrum-half Ed Lewsey from Exeter Chiefs on one-year deals.

Luff, 24, who scored 54 tries in 94 games for the Chiefs, spent a spell on loan with Launceston earlier this year.

Lewsey, 30, has also played for Plymouth Albion, where he was voted player of the year in 2007/8.

Launceston head coach Jon Hill said: "The pair are huge signings. We're delighted to welcome them. They've got a lot of experience in National One."

Hill added: "Both of them are proven try scorers, so they've certainly made a huge impression in South West rugby."

Luff scored six tries in just four games for the Cornish All Blacks during his loan period at the club last season.

During the course of his career Lewsey, younger brother of England star Josh, has crossed the line 48 times in 165 games.

Both Lewsey and Luff were unable to break into the Chiefs' first team on a weekly basis during the 2008/9 season and Hill is hoping that will change at Launceston.

"They've got a better chance of regular rugby with ourselves and it's a huge selling point in that we're only in the league division below where they've been playing," Hill told BBC Radio Cornwall.

Jason Luff ran in six tries in four games in last season's loan at Launceston

Hill said that Launceston's location on the border between Devon and Cornwall has been helpful in attracting players.

"We are quite lucky in that you have Exeter only 40 miles away and Plymouth half an hour, which helps negotiations."

Lewsey and Luff are expected to be the last summer signings for the Cornish All Blacks, who finished seventh in National Two last season, after being relegated from National One in 2008.