Mills named Exiles skipper

Jonathan Mills has been confirmed as London Welsh captain for the forthcoming Premiership season.

The 28-year-old, the Exiles' longest-serving player who took over the captaincy in 2010, has recently signed a new deal after leading the club to Championship glory last season.

The back row forward began his London Welsh career with an

unbeaten four-game loan spell from the Scarlets in January 2007, before making the move permanent the following summer.

Since then he has gone on to score 11 tries in 141 appearances for the club.

"I'm very happy to keep doing the job and delighted that Lyn (Jones, London Welsh coach) thought I did a good job last season," said Mills.

"The captaincy brings out the best in me. The way I play, I lead from the front anyway and hopefully it inspires the other boys to an extent.

"I've experienced lows during my time with the club, but it's moving forward now and it's really exciting times.

"The standard of players we're signing and who want to come to the club shows how far London Welsh has progressed, and hopefully it will keep getting stronger and moving forwards.

"You can't really believe where we've got to. When I first joined the club it was fighting relegation. To now be in the Premiership is very special."

Meanwhile, Former Sale director of rugby Kingsley Jones has agreed a short-term deal to join the London Welsh coaching staff.

The 43-year-old will assist head coach Lyn Jones until the end of October before returning to his role with Russia ahead of Canada and the USA in November.

Jones, who spent seven years at Sale, joined the Russian set-up in February 2011 before being appointed as head coach in December.

Also joining the Exiles ahead of their Aviva Premiership debut will be Paulica Ion, Kirill Kulemin and Tyson Keates.

London Irish prop Ion has signed on a season-long loan, while lock Kulemin makes the switch from Castres. Scrum-half Keates is a free agent after Aironi folded.