Rebels sign Weeks

The Melbourne Rebels have announced their first local signing with boom Queensland Reds prop Laurie Weeks agreeing to terms with the fledgling Super 15 club.

Weeks joins former England scrumhalf Danny Cipriani on the Rebels' roster after agreeing to terms on Thursday.

The 23-year-old's defection confirms Reds coach Ewen McKenzie's fears he is set to lose a handful of players to the Rod Macqueen coached line-up in the coming days.

Weeks, who has strong links with Rebels assistant coach Damien Hill having played under his tutelage at Sydney University, played all 13 games for the Reds in his debut season in 2009 and is widely considered a future Wallaby.

Other Reds players on the Rebels' most-wanted list include Wallabies winger Peter Hynes, who remains undecided on his future, while lock Adam Byrnes and Richard Kingi will both be unveiled in the coming days.

Waratahs duo Adam Freier and Peter Betham are also expected to jump ship while long-serving Sydney Uni captain Tim Davidson is a done deal.

Long-serving Reds captain Sam Cordingley, currently based in France, is also expected to sign on in the coming days.

Mark Gasnier, whose management recently held talks with ARU officials, is being strongly pursued along with Brumbies stalwart Stirling Mortlock, Japan-based winger Mark Gerrard and former Welsh international Gareth Delve.