STOURBRIDGE director of rugby Neil Mitchell has pulled off a summer signing scoop by snapping up full-back Matt Farrington and centre Stefan Shillingford from local rivals Dudley Kingswinford.

Mitchell said that he had been tracking the players for the past two years.

He said: “To say I’m over the moon at getting these two players is an understatement.

“I believe Matt Farrington will go onto play in the Premiership.

“I’ve tried to get Stefan Shillingford before, but he’s always stayed loyal to Dudley Kingswinford.

“Now he wants to progress and it fits in well as he works locally.”

Mitchell has also bolstered his options for the coal-face for next season by bringing in England Counties loose-head prop Mike Hill from rivals Birmingham and Solihull.

He joins fellow England Counties front-rower Mark George, while tight-head prop Tom May arrives from Burton-on-Trent.

Together with Adam Sturdy and Carl Garner, they form a formidable front row unit.

Mitchell hopes to add Moseley second row Ceiran Moore and former Rotherham Titan Niall Dacras to his squad, while Nathan MacDonald is another new face at Stourton Park having previously played for Coventry.

On the downside, there have been departures as well.

Ben Hughes has retired, while former Moseley second-row Richard Stott has moved to Peterborough.

Stuart Pearl has switched to Broadstreet, while Will Hurrell has joined Coventry.

Tom Brown has been signed by Cornish club Launceston and Drew Harper has decided to take a year out of rugby.

Mitchell admitted lessons had to learnt from last season when the Saxons failed to win immediate promotion back to National League One despite winning the opening 18 games of the season.

He said: “Some players thought it was just going to happen — and it didn’t.

“To win the first 18 games and then not go up was harsh.

“You think you’ve seen it all but the warning signs were there.”

Stourbridge have an attractive pre-season fixture when they travel to take on Swansea on August 10.

They then host Wharfedale on August 17 before travelling to Sutton Coldfield on August 31.

Stourbridge kick off their National Two North campaign at home to promoted Harrogate, which is then followed by a trip to DK.