LITHUANIAN Valdas Urbo-navicius will bring a multi-national feel to Worcester Wolves by becoming their first summer signing.

Urbonavicius, aged 23, has been snapped up by the England Basketball League Division One outfit following a scouting mission to the Baltic state earlier this month.

The six-foot six-inch utility man can play point guard, shooting guard or small forward, making him a useful asset to the University College Worcester club as they attempt to build on this season's play-off semi-final spot.

Director of basketball Mick Donovan spent five days in Kaunas with club owner Roger Clarke running the rule over potential captures to strengthen the team.

The pair kept a close eye on 15 players in seven games and eight training sessions as well as meeting agents, coaches and club owners.

Clarke is confident that in Urbonavicius, Wolves have found a player to strike fear into the heart's of England Basketball's top sides.

He said: "Valdas is an exciting player and will cause our rivals many problems."

Urbonavicius, who is taking English lessons, will join up in August ahead of the new season, but his signature does not affect Wolves' non-national allocation.

Rules state clubs are allow-ed two non-national players but European Union nations, including Lithuania, do not count.

Lithuania is one of basketball's strongest nations. They are the reigning European champions and finished four-th at the Athens Olympics.

Urbonavicius plays in his homeland's second division, the equivalent of the British Basketball League.

His signing has forged the first of what Wolves officials hope will be many links between Lithuanian sides and Wolves and UCW.

Wolves have already been invited to attend the Lithuanian International Club Championship next summer and will be sending players on Lithuanian coaching camps.

Their invitation was extended for this summer but with several Wolves stars representing UCW as British champions at July's European Championships, another Ea-stern European trip was considered too soon.

Donovan said: "The time spent in Lithuania was a basketball adventure.

"One of our greatest strengths at the Wolves is our hunger to learn.

"As a club we want to improve all of the time. The team and the players will benefit from the links."

In addition, Wolves will also embark on a tour of Russia at the end of the 2005/06 season.