OXFORD Harlequins have signed 15 new players and seen seven leave after a summer of transition for the National 3 South West club.

This will be their final season playing under the Quins name before the newly merged Oxford club takes to the field in 2012-13.

Heading the new faces is dual code Tongan international centre Tevita Vaikona, who has appeared for Bradford Bulls and Saracens among others.

Vaikona also joins a coaching team of director of rugby John Brodley, Tony Edney, Andy Boyle, John Gunter and Martin Nutt.

Back-row forward Jamie Cope returns from New Zealand and will reprise his former role as captain.

Cope has brought with him prop Jonathan Hall from Christchurch, while another to join from overseas is Hayden Newman – the brother of flanker Ryan, who has moved to Henley Hawks.

Fly half Jeff Stewart and No 8 Jason Welburn have returned to Australia, with Alex Stevenson the former’s likely replacement after signing from Rugby Lions.

Brodley said: “We have bedded in a lot of new players. It has not so much been recruiting as them turning up.

“We start off every season with a lot of optimism.

“Behind the scenes, I think we are really strong with what we offer the players on a support basis.”

IN: Jonathan Hall (loose-head prop, Christchurch, New Zealand), Ben Wilkinson (hooker, Devizes), Michael Forde (lock, Darlington MP), Julian Watkins (back row, Cokethorpe School), Paul Prosser (back row, Northampton Men’s Own), Ed Taylor (back row, Leighton Buzzard), Jamie Cope (back row, Christchurch), Spencer Goggins (scrum half, Worcester Warriors), Michael Croft (scrum half, Salisbury), Alex Stevenson (fly half, Rugby Lions), Hayden Newman (wing/centre, Gold Coast Breakers, Aus), Tevita Vaikona (centre, Hull), Andy Lacy (wing, Southampton University), Phil Thomas (full back, RAF and Combined Services), Harry Warman (full back, Weston-super-Mare).

OUT: James Eckert (prop, Grove), Matt Young (flanker, Grove), Xavier Andre (wing/centre, Henley Hawks), Ryan Newman (flanker, Henley Hawks), Allan Purchase (lock, Rugby Lions), Jeff Stewart (fly half, Australia), Jason Welburn (No 8, Australia).

LAST SEASON: 9th.

PREDICTION: Mid-table.