Gordon Ross stays on to support London Welsh promotion bid

FORMER Edinburgh and Scotland stand-off Gordon Ross has signed on again with London Welsh as the English club hope it is a case of third time lucky in their bid for promotion to the Premiership.

Welsh have risen through the ranks in recent years and, with Ross pulling the strings, reached the play-offs in the RFU Championship this season for the second successive time, only to lose out to the Cornish Pirates, who themselves were beaten by Worcester in the final.

The club termed the 33-year-old "an inspired signing" and Ross has turned down the chance to leave and perhaps play club rugby back in Scotland to remain at Old Deer Park.

"I had a couple of opportunities to move elsewhere but I've really enjoyed my time at Welsh," he said.

"The squad is certainly improving and the club is heading in the right direction and, if the nucleus of the squad can stay together, then hopefully we can build on what we've achieved so far."

Ross won 25 caps for Scotland between 2001 and 2006, but lost his place to Dan Parks and Phil Godman after Frank Hadden took charge of the national team.

He played with Leeds, Castres and Saracens before joining Welsh in 2009 and has not figured in current Scotland coach Andy Robinson's thinking.

He has made 49 appearances for London Welsh in all competitions since joining the club, scoring 242 points, and is one of several experienced players in the squad, alongside former England wing Paul Sampson, ex-Wasps second row Martin Purdy, Tonga hooker Vili Ma'asi and another former Saracen in No 8 Ben Russell.

London Welsh will revive their rivalry with London Scottish next season after the Scots were promoted to the Championship.

Yesterday the Scots strengthened their challenge with the announcement that Aberdeen Asset Management have become an official club sponsor and the signing of loose forward Mark Bright from Redruth. The two-year sponsorship deal helps fund the signing of Bright and sees the global asset management firm's logo displayed on the back of first XV playing shirts and club replica shirts.

Aberdeen Asset Management have an existing sponsorship deal with Edinburgh. Chief executive Martin Gilbert said: "We are proud to be sponsoring London Scottish Rugby Club. We are dedicated to supporting rugby in Scotland and this partnership is a superb way to demonstrate our commitment to the sport south of the Border as well. We look forward to working with London Scottish to continue to develop the club and its rugby talent."

Bright has played 118 games for Redruth, and scored 19 tries last season. He also holds the distinction of having been named in the National League 1 team of the season a record five times.

He is currently in his native New Zealand playing for the Tasman Makos in the ITM Cup.