RUGBY UNION: Jones is delighted at capture of top duo (From The Oxford Times)

RUGBY UNION: Jones is delighted at capture of top duo

11:00am Friday 10th August 2012 in Sport

London Welsh coach Lyn Jones says the capture of internationals Paulica Ion and Kirill Kulemin will bring the best out of their teammates.

Tighthead prop Ion, 29, who has been capped 51 times by Romania, joins Welsh on a season-long loan from London Irish for whom he has played 64 times, scoring one try.

Capped 18 times by Russia, Kulemin, a second-row forward, joins the Oxford-based side from French outfit Castres.

“They are two fine signings who will help our squad to perform to its maximum,” said Jones. “They are boys with lots of experience at the highest level in the English and French leagues and can bring the best out of other players.”

Ion made his international debut against Argentina in the 2003 World Cup.

Kulemin, 31, had a spell at Agen, and began his playing career in rugby league with Dynamo Moscow.

His international rugby union debut came in 2006 against Portugal.

Kulemin helped them qualify for the 2011 world cup.