HEAD coach Will Croker has continued his Bournemouth revamp by adding four new players as well as persuading a familiar face to return.

Lock Matt Christopher has made the switch from Wimborne alongside experienced back-row Rudi Kochanowski, who captained Hampshire last season.

Berkshire’s Jack Parsons, equally adept at fly-half or inside-centre, is another new face following his spell playing representative rugby in Sydney with Matt Perri, formerly with Auckland’s development squad, also signing.

Back-row Dan Cawley has returned to Chapel Gate having had his playing career curtailed by work commitments over the past two years.

Croker said: “Matt Christopher wants to challenge himself at a higher level and in Matt Perri and Josh Parsons, we have two players who are well versed in running a creative midfield.

“Alongside Joe Gwyther, Scott Chislett and Adam Higgins, they will add great competition for places and give us the ability to mix it up when we need to.

“In Rudi, we have an old head who has been there, seen it and done it. He will do the often-unseen dirty work which is always so valuable to any team.

“Dan is an experienced player so the squad is taking shape.”

On Saturday, Lions kick off their pre-season preparations with a home double-header against Sheffield Tigers, who play at the same level as Bournemouth in National Three North. 

Both teams will run the rule over two squads in matches kicking off at 1pm and 3pm at Chapel Gate.