Murray building new-look Ayr for trophy hunt

AYR have been busy recruiting for the new season, following the loss of several key players from last season's Scottish Cup-winning squad.

In addition to iconic skipper Damien Kelly returning to Australia, the retirement of Glenn Tippett, prop Gordon Reid's call-up to Glasgow Warriors and Mark Bennett's move to France to the Clermont Auvergne Academy left coach Kenny Murray looking for new faces.

"Of course, the loss of so-many key players will mean a new-look Ayr, but I am confident that between some really exciting young players coming through the ranks and some new recruits, we will be in the hunt for trophies come the end of the new season," he said.

"We have brought over highly-rated lock Josh Dunning from Sydney club Eastwood, while New Zealand stand-off Nick Elrick has joined us from Takapuna; he's in the North Harbour Development squad, where he usually plays full-back or wing, with his elder brother Jon playing at first five-eighth. But our New Zealand scouts tell us Nick is also a very good first receiver, so that's two key positions where we are looking good.

"Graham Fiskin has joined us from West, as has winger Richard Dalgleish and they both have proven Premier One experience, while of course Graham also has considerable experience with the Scotland Sevens squad.

"Sylvan Diez, who was with Dumfries last season and is a product of the Castres academy, will give us depth at scrum-half while Nick Cox, who missed most of last season with injury is back to strengthen our propping numbers - while we still have the core of last season's pack available, although Rob Colhoun will not be ready for the kick-off.

"We are looking at a few more players, so I am confident we'll be ready for our Premiership opener against Edinburgh Accies at Millbrae."