Exiles can surprise a few, says Briggs (From The Oxford Times)

Exiles can surprise a few, says Briggs

10:00am Tuesday 7th August 2012 in Sport

London Welsh’s newest signing believes the Aviva Premiership new boys will surprise clubs this season.

Former Sale Sharks captain Neil Briggs has signed up for the Exiles, who will play their home games at the Kassam Stadium , Oxford, this season.

The 27-year-old knows all about the demands of the top flight after making 104 appearances for Sale in a six-year spell.

He said: “It’s going to be a big challenge, but I like that. It’s a chance to help a club grow.

“London Welsh is a club which wants to push forward and they showed that with the fight they put in to go up.

“I’d heard good things about Lyn (Jones, head coach) and they play some pretty attractive rugby.

“The Premiership’s tough for teams who’ve been there for ten years, so for a team coming up it’s always going to be hard, but having seen how hard the boys are working and the way they want to play, I think we’ll surprise a few people.”

Briggs, who earned England caps with the under 21 and Saxon sides, spent last season playing for French Pro2 side Bourgoin.

Jones added: “Neil is a very experienced campaigner.

“He’s got a lot of qualities and he’ll add some stiff competition at hooker.”