The English rugby club London Irish have signed the Chiefs lock Matt Symons on a "long-term" deal.
Matt Symons Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Symons moved from England to New Zealand to play amateur rugby before establishing himself with the Chiefs.
Tom Coventry, Irish's new coach next season, is currently part of the Chiefs coaching team.
Symons, who was once part of Great Britain's Rowing World Class Start programme, used to play for Esher in the Championship before moving to New Zealand.
The 25-year-old will be available from next season and is thought to have signed a three-year deal.
Symons says it was a really tough decision to leave one of the best Super Rugby teams in the competition but the opportunities that London Irish offered and the chance to return home were very compelling.
He says the new coaching set up at London Irish is exciting, he made his decision before they had established the management team, but having worked with Tom Coventry at the Chiefs he knows he will be a massive asset to London Irish.
