Sale Sharks have strengthened their pack with the signing of lock Nick Rouse from Nottingham.
The 29-year-old, who was named in the Championship's team of the season for 2009-10, impressed the new Sale head coach Mike Brewer during a pre-season trial spell.
Brewer said: "The signing of Nick increases my options in the second row. He has been training with us for a few weeks and has done very well. He is a very good lineout player in both attack and defence and is also a very busy player in the loose."