Puma powerhouse signs with Wasps

London Wasps have bolstered their pack with the signing of highly-rated young Argentinean prop Guillermo Roan.

The 22-year old tighthead, who has played 10 times for the Argentina Jaguars, comes to the club with a rising reputation as one of his country's best young front row prospects.

Roan, currently with La Plata in Buenos Aires, represented the Argentinean team - the Pampas selection - that competed in the 2010 Vodacom Cup in South Africa, and has also represented his country at Under-20 level when he was part of the Junior World Championship team in 2008.

Roan is the 11th senior squad signing made by London Wasps in time for the new season and he joins initially on a six-month contract with a view to a two-year deal.

He joins a number of other top-quality signings at the club including England hooker Steve Thompson, All Black Ross Fillipo, Welsh flyhalf Nicky Robinson and Jonathan Poff from the Crusaders.

Guillermo Roan said: "It's very exciting to be given the opportunity to come to England and play with such a great club. This is a big challenge for me and I hope I can impress enough in the first half of the season to secure the longer term deal. I know lots of Argentinean players who have gone to Europe at a young age and hugely improved their game and I hope the same can be the case for me. I'm looking forward to getting started."

London Wasps CEO Chris Thomas said: "Roan is an exciting young player with a lot of potential and he has been picked out in Argentina as one to watch. Everything we have seen and heard about him suggests he has all of the potential to develop into a prop of the highest quality and we're looking forward to him joining the squad."