WORCESTER Rugby Club have bolstered their front row by signing Varsity prop forward Andy Collins.

The 25-year-old former Bristol and Pontypridd professional signed last night from Oxford University before training with his new team mates.

Director of rugby Les Cusworth moved for the prop after being left woefully short last weekend due to an horrendous list of injuries.

Tony Windo, Neil Lyman, Mark Linnett along with youngsters Andy Robinson and Bennett Smith were all unavailable.

Worcester did not have a league fixture and so avoided the embarrassing prospect of being unable to field a team but have moved swiftly to avoid a repeat.

"Andy is a specialist tight head prop and again we've found you can never have enough quality players in those areas," said Cusworth. "We had five props down last week with various injuries and it shows how quickly things can turn around."

Sussex-born Collins has played for England U19s and U21s and captained the South West U21s.

He turned professional with Bristol, making 20 first team appearances during a season and a half before spending half a season with Pontypridd.

Collins then went back to studying, taking up a postgraduate course at Oxford University and played in the last two Varsity matches at Twickenham.

He completes his Masters in social anthropology in the summer and will play on a part-time contract until then.

"I want to help Worcester's promotion bid as I've played a little bit of Premiership One rugby and know what it's all about," he said.

Worcester have been pursuing Collins through Carl Douglas who coached the prop as part of the British students squad.

He also played for Oxford University at Sixways in November scoring a try in the students' 29-18 defeat.

n Winger Nick Baxter and half-back Ben Harvey are due to play for the Barbarians tonight.

Both have been chosen to play in Coventry's 125th anniversary match at Coundon Road, kick-off 7.30pm.