Former Wasps and England scrum-half Joe Simpson has joined Old Priorians - and is in line to make his debut for the Saints this Saturday against London Sussex.

Simpson (OP 06) - who made 230 appearances for Wasps in the Premiership (along with spells for Gloucester, Bath and Sale) and played for England at the 2011 World Cup - retired from the professional game in December 2022 and follows his brother Michael in pulling on the OPs shirt.

Looking ahead to the fixture, Simpson said :

'It's great to be back playing at Perivale - St Benedict's was a big part of my life and I'm looking forward to having a run out with some of the lads I've grown up with.'

2nd XV manager and Club Secretary, Mark Machado, also commented on the news :

'A regular face round Perivale over the years, it's brilliant that only weeks after retiring from the professional game Joe is getting his boots back on.

Even though Joe has torn it up in the Premiership, in Europe and for England, critics have always questioned if he could cut it in the Middlesex Merit Tables in mid-February and if I know anything about the Simpson family, it's that they never back down from a challenge.

I look forward to taking to the pitch with Joe soon.'

Joe will join the Saints squad as they take on London Sussex in Middlesex Merit Table Division 1, a 1.30pm kick off at St Benedict's Playing Field, before the Twisters play Amersham at 3pm at the same venue.