With the Celtic League big kick-off approaching on Friday evening, Cardiff Blues have moved quickly to fill the gap left by injuries to scrum-halves Richard Smith and Ryan Powell.
This morning, former Cardiff club favourite, Andy Moore, trained with the Blues' squad and his registration was being completed this afternoon.
Moore had a distinguished career with the Cardiff club in the 1990s, winning a Welsh Cup medal in 1994 (as well as the official man-of-the-match award), his first international cap in January 1996, and an appearance in the Heineken Cup Final. By the time he left the Arms Park in the summer of 1996 he had scored 45 tries in 140 games. He returned three years later for another game against Bedford - and now becomes a Cardiff Blue, initially on a short-term contract.
Blues' coach, David Young, said:
"We were all desperately upset when Richard [Smith] was stretchered off last week, though thankfully the scan he received suggests he will eventually return to full fitness. Ryan Powell is still sidelined after the operation on his shins but he hopes to be available again in about a month. So signing another scrum-half became a priority and there can be no one better in the circumstances than Andy Moore. He's a quality player with a long-standing association with the Arms Park. We are delighted to have him with us again."
Andy Moore will travel with the Blues' squad to play Glasgow Rugby on Friday evening (kick-off 7.30pm) and is likely to be named in the starting line-up when the Blues' team is announced at 9.00am tomorrow (Wednesday) morning.
There is no news yet on the second scan on Richard Smith's neck injury.