Harrogate Rugby Union Club are hoping to sign a former Scotland international for next season.

The player, a back whose name has not been revealed, is currently in Australia watching the British and Irish Lions on tour. It is expected that he will resume talks with Harrogate when he returns home at the end of the Lions' tour.

Ralph Zoing, who will head National League Two side Harrogate's coaching team, including former England 'A' back row player Martin Pepper and long-serving No 8 Jeremy Hopkins, is on a recruitment drive and is set soon to announce a clutch of new signings.

One of these is Lundy Shackleton, 19-year-old son of former England stand-off Roger Shackleton, who had two spells as a player at Claro Road in the late 1960s and early 1970s and again in the early 1980s. He later coached the Georgians.

First team manager Graham Siswick said: "Lundy, who plays scrum-half, was offered a contract by Northampton Academy but has chosen to sign for us and try to force his way into the first team."

Several first team regulars are being wooed by other clubs, but free-scoring full-back Ed Smithies has resisted overtures from former Harrogate coach Peter Clegg to join him at Otley.

Smithies, 27, ran in 18 tries last season, including two hat-tricks.

Former Morley prop Scott Wilson, 29, is another who has pledged his future to Harrogate.

The squad will begin training on July 17 and will have two practice games and a weekend away at Bishop Burton College in August.

Harrogate's season opens where the last one finished, with a trip to Newbury. The first home game is on September 8 against relegated Waterloo.

Although the club's Claro Road ground has been sold to house builders for £7.2 million, chairman Frank Carr said: "Competitive rugby at national level will continue at Claro Road from September."

Updated: 12:28 Friday, June 29, 2001