Rob McCusker: Ex-Scarlets captain to stay at Ospreys for 2016-17

Rob McCusker captained Scarlets between 2012 and 2014

Ospreys will keep former Scarlets and Wales back-rower Rob McCusker until the end of the 2016-17 season.

McCusker, 30, originally arrived as cover for open-side flanker Sam Underhill, who is recovering from a shoulder injury.

McCusker made 133 appearances for Scarlets before moving to London Irish, where he played 17 games in 2015-16.

He has won six Wales caps and joined Ospreys after initially signing for the Welsh Premiership's Carmarthen Quins.

McCusker has yet to make a competitive appearance for Ospreys, but had pre-season game time for the Swansea-based region after being released by London Irish at the end of 2015-16.

He said: "It's a player-focused environment where information flows both ways and, to be honest, it's refreshing to be in that kind of environment.

"I know that there is strong competition in the back row but I want to fight for a place."

Ospreys head coach Steve Tandy said of the Wrexham-born player: "Coming into pre-season very late means he has had some catching up to do, but we are already seeing big improvements and, as the season progresses, we would look to him to play a big role for us, particularly during international windows."