CANTERBURY’S new fly-half signing Tom Best has been sent to South Africa to sample top-flight rugby before starting his career with the city club.

Eighteen-year-old Best, from Deal, is spending three weeks with the Academy of leading provincial side Natal Sharks.

“It’s an exciting opportunity for Tom,” said club spokesman David Haigh. “We hope he will be the first of many young Canterbury players to go out there and learn. We have strong links with South Africa and it will be to the benefit of the club and young players with ambition.”

When Best returns at the end of this month he will find himself one of several new signings as Canterbury’s summer recruitment campaign gathers momentum.

Among them will be former Westcombe Park half back Dave Marshall, who has moved to Merton Lane together with UKC Centre Ben Thomas and scrum half Luke Harding.

Thomas, who impressed in the Pilgrims and Development sides last season, has been part of Northampton’s Academy set-up and is expected to be one of several young players stepping up for first team duty.

Marshall has won full county honours with Kent and has been in Canterbury’s sights for some time, while Harding, who has completed studies at Hartpury College which is part of the Gloucester rugby academy, is another who has won county caps for Kent.

Other additions to the squad are Thomas’s UKC colleague Tom Corbet, a hooker or flanker, and Welsh recruit Huw Collings, a former Cardiff High School Old Boys back rower.

“We expect to be announcing more signings in the next few weeks with an emphasis on the front row, “ said David Haigh.

“We have lost a stalwart in prop Jamie Forsyth, who has increasing work commitments so we are looking to beef up that department.”

The club, now back in full training at Merton Lane, have been drawn at home to Staines in the first round of the National Cup on October 18.

They have tough pre-season games arranged next month against National 2 opponents Southend and Blackheath.

New players at all levels are welcome to join the club and should report for training at 7pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays, or contact head coach Danny Vaughan on 07966 311382.