Heriot's FP prop Bruce Douglas has signed a contract with the Zurich Premiership club NEC Harlequins.

The strongly built tighthead prop thus follows his Goldenacre predecessor Iain Milne, the former Scotland and Lions player, in playing for Harlequins. It is understood that Edinburgh Reivers had approached Douglas but the Heriot's player was adamant that he wanted to have a two-year spell in London.

Yesterday Roy Laidlaw, the elite player programme co-ordinator for the Scottish Rugby Union, said: ''It is a pity the Bruce did not want to play his rugby in Scotland next season, but his development should accelerate at Harlequins.''

Meanwhile, former Scotland stand-off Craig Chalmers, who played the second half of the season with Harlequins, has signed for Worcester. It is understood that Melrose were trying to put together a package to bring Chalmers back to the Greenyards where he returned for a brief period last season, but he has elected to stay in England.

Exeter were another team who were believed to be in for Chalmers, who will be looking to get his career back on track this season after a dreadful year with the Glasgow Caledonian Reds.

lAyr last night snapped up George Breckenridge as their new backs coach in what was effectively a swap deal with Glasgow Hawks.

Former Glasgow District utility back Breckenridge replaces Jim Barrie, who switched to Hawks earlier this month. He will operate as deputy to New Zealander Joe Wright, who starts work at Millbrae in a fortnight as they bid to get back into the top flight.