By Kevin Redsull

Head coach Danny Vaughan fears Canterbury Rugby Club may have lost new signing John Coutts because of the bad weather.

The 23-year-old former Hawick and Melrose full-back has been marooned north of the border since signing earlier this month and Vaughan (pictured) said: "Although we have found a job for John down here, because of the bad weather he’s been going for other interviews in Scotland and has now been offered another job.

"I think he has lost a bit of heart about coming down here because of all the weather and travel problems and so it’s hanging in the air."

After losing two full-backs already this season through long-term injury and travel plans, the loss of Coutts would be another blow to Vaughan’s small squad and the coach fears that Canterbury could become embroiled in a relegation scrap in the second half of the National 2 South season.

Frustrated by a third successive postponement last Saturday, when Canterbury’s home Kent derby with Westcombe Park was snowed off, Vaughan admitted: "There are a few teams in the middle of the table who will be looking over their shoulders in the new year and, to be honest, I think we will be one of them."