 Gustard brings plenty of experience |
Saracens have signed fly-half Ross Laidlaw, centre Rodd Penney and flanker Paul Gustard from London Irish. New Zealand-born Penney, 27, has made 20 appearances for the Exiles this season and scored four tries.
Gustard has made over 100 appearances for Leicester and London Irish, and will provide an experienced back-row hand after Taine Randell's retirement.
Laidlaw, an England Under-21 cap, has impressed in his five appearances for Irish this season.
The trio will join up with their new team-mates for pre-season training.
New Saracens director of Rugby Alan Gaffney said: "We're delighted to sign all three players and they all have important roles to play next season.
"Rod Penney has been a consistent performer this season and showed in the early part of the year that he is very talented player.
"Paul Gustard brings with him a great deal of experience and he still has plenty to offer Saracens.
"Ross Laidlaw is a very talented youngster with a big future in the game. He's had limited first team opportunities but he's taken them well. He's a very exciting player."
Former Saracens and England flanker Alex Sanderson will spend next season coaching at the Queensland Reds. Sanderson will link up with Eddie Jones, the former Wallaby boss who has spent the last two months masterminding Saracens' climb away from Guinness Premiership relegation.
Persistent back injuries forced Sanderson to retire last year and he has been a member of Saracens' coaching team since, impressing Jones in the process.
The 27-year-old will gain experience working beneath Jones at the Queensland Reds before returning to Vicarage Road for the 2007-08 campaign.
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