SEDGLEY Park finally tied-up their eighth signing of the summer - and probably the most important.

With Ryno Ueckermann returning to South Africa, the National One new boys were in need of a goal kicking stand-off and they have finally nailed their man, Kiwi Blair Feeney.

"We're delighted to have signed such an experienced player," said Tigers' president Geoff Roberts.

"It's taken six long weeks but we feel Blair will bring some stability to the way we play.

"He's an excellent goal kicker and he's played with the best New Zealand has to offer, he's also experienced European rugby in the form of the Parker Pen Shield.

"We've had to keep our negotiations with him secret because we were the only English club alerted to his availability, and we've been helped a great deal by Sale's Joss Baxendale who made the initial contact on our behalf."

The 29-year-old joins the Tigers from Italian Super 10 side Viadana, and he got a taste of English rugby when Viadana played Rotherham Titans in the Parker Pen Shield. The Italians reached the final of the competition but lost 25-19 to Montpellier.

But it is his experience prior to that that marks him out as a player to watch.

Back home in New Zealand, Feeney played his club rugby for home-town side Pukekohe (appearing in five grand finals winning the title in 1999) and Kaikorai. He was also a member of the All Black under 19 side that played Ireland and England

At Provincial level he played 60 games for Counties, scoring 530 points and appearing in two grand finals. He then scored 151 points in 11 games for Otago.

The highlight of his career so far has been six seasons in the southern hemisphere's most prestigious club competition, the Super 12s.

He played for three teams - the Chiefs, Crusaders and Highlanders - and was a member of the 1998 Crusaders' Grand Final winning squad that contained such All Black luminaries as Andrew Mehrtens, Justin Marshall, Todd Blackadder and Reuben Thorne.

Sedgley have now signed two front rowers (prop Petrus du Plessis from Orrell and prop-hooker Jan Louren from Liverpool St.Helens); two back rowers (James Ponton from Leeds Tykes and Jon Skurr from Wakefield); along with four backs (fullback Danny McGee from Halifax, wings Jon Feeley from Wakefield and Richard Welding from Orrell, and now stand-off Feeney from Viadana).

However, the club's search for another second row continues after one target dropped out of the frame.

"Dan Cook has been offered a full-time contract to stay at Rotherham Titans so we'll just have to continue looking and we may have to move our search overseas, we've already been in discussions with a player who featured in this season's Super 12 competition," added Roberts.