Cornish Pirates: Marlen Walker joins from Weston-super-Mare

Cornish Pirates home ground of Mennaye Field in Penzance

Cornish Pirates have signed front-row forward Marlen Walker from Weston-super-Mare on a short-term contract.

The 26-year-old swaps National League Three South West for the Championship.

A former New Zealand Schoolboys prop, he was part of the youth set-ups at Super 14 teams Auckland Blues and Western Force, but did not make a first-team appearance for either.

"He's very dynamic with ball-in-hand and should bolster our ball-carriers," said director of rugby Ian Davies.

"He has ambitions to play at this level or above so a short-term contract works for both of us."