Heineken Cup quarter-finalists' Northampton Saints have signed England tight-head prop Paul Doran-Jones from Premiership rivals Gloucester.
The 25-year-old former London Welsh player leaves the west-country after two seasons at Gloucester and will arrive at Franklin's Gardens ahead of the 2011/12 campaign.
Comfortable on either side of the scrum, Doran-Jones was capped by England in the 2009 Autumn Internationals and is part of England's Elite Playing Squad.
"I played against the Saints in my first game for London Welsh and it's always been tough playing against them," said Doran-Jones.
"They've got a history of having a strong pack and it will be great to be a part of the squad at Franklin's Gardens.
"I'm looking forward to getting in and training with the boys. I've been with a few of them with England and the banter's starting already. The likes of Dylan and Courtney and the other guys like Tonga'uiha and Mujati have done really well this season and I want to be a part of that.
"Gloucester has been a great club for me. It's tough to leave the place where I had my chance. The clubs are similar with great followings and histories and Kingsholm will always be a special place for me.
"But I'm looking forward to the challenge of moving to Franklin's Gardens and challenging for my place at the Saints.
They are showing where they can be in the current Heineken Cup and I want to be competing at that level week in, week out in the future and improve myself as a player."
Director of rugby Jim Mallinder who guided his squad to six victories out of six games in the Heineken Cup pool stage this season was delighted to have captures the much sought after signature of Doran-Jones.
"Paul is a quality prop who has the added benefit of playing on either side of the scrum," said Mallinder.
"As we prepare for a tough Premiership and European campaign we need players who are flexible enough to play in a variety of positions, and to have props like Paul, Tom Mercey and Brian Mujati who can play at tight and loose-head will only be good for the Saints squad.
"Having quality players in these positions will mean that competition will remain fierce and will also continue to push our standards higher and higher, which we need if we want to stay competing at the top end of the Premiership and in the later stages of Europe."