Western Force have continued preparing for life without former captain David Pocock, signing underrated openside flanker Chris Alcock from New South Wales.
Pocock announced last month he was leaving the Force to join the Brumbies, who in turn have lost promising number seven Michael Hooper to the Waratahs.
Hooper's move to Sydney meant Alcock was unlikely to start for the Waratahs in 2013 and he instead decided to join his former coach Michael Foley in Perth.
Alcock has signed a two-year deal.
"I've got a great relationship with Foles and he's been very helpful in developing me throughout my professional career, so I was very pleased to have the opportunity to continue working with him at the Force," Alcock said in a statement.
"It's a great opportunity for me at the Force. It's going to be a fairly new team with a number of guys leaving, and it's a great opportunity to be part of something new."
The 24-year-old Alcock, who is renowned for his ability to play hard on the ball at the breakdown, made his Super Rugby debut for the Waratahs in 2010.
Tags: rugby-union, super-rugby, sport, perth-6000 First posted August 22, 2012 11:24:36