Ollie Smith signs for Harlequins

Smith has five England caps and played for the Lions in 2005

Former England and Leicester Tigers outside centre Ollie Smith will play for Harlequins next season.

The 27-year-old, who currently plays for Montpellier, hopes the move back to England will aid him win a place at the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand.

"I am looking forward to coming back and joining such a prestigious club with so much history," Smith said.

Quins have also signed Northampton's England Under-20 hooker Joe Gray and Argentina centre Benjamin Urdapilleta.

Smith continued: "I will be joining Quins a year before the World Cup, and I am not afraid to say that one of the reasons I have returned to England is so I can push for a position in next year's World Cup squad.

"I believe Quins, with the players and coaching structure that they have in place, will allow me to achieve that aspiration."

Smith moved to France in 2008 after making more than 180 appearances and scoring 37 tries while at Leicester.

Quins have also announced that England Under-20 and National Academy coach Mark Mapletoft will take over as assistant coach next season.

He will assume the role in July after he has taken the Under-20 side to the Junior World Championships in Argentina.

Mapletoft said: "It has been a very tough decision to make but, after three very enjoyable years working as part of the Elite Department, I've decided to move on to fresh challenges at Harlequins."