Cardiff Met student Luke Northmore has signed with English Premiership giants Harlequins, following in the footsteps of his close friend and former Wales Under-20s player Alex Dombrandt.
The 22-year-old has been a standout, consistent centre for Cardiff Met RFC during his time in the Welsh capital and now heads to London for the 2019/20 season following the completion of his studies.
Northmore, who can play at either 12 or 13, played his early rugby at Tavistock RFC in Devon, and has been a steady performer for the university side for the past three years.
He said: "I have really enjoyed watching Alex play at Harlequins this season and heard first-hand what a great culture there is at the club.
"It is a great club with an amazing history - but I know Paul Gustard is now looking to create history of his own there by winning more silverware. It is a very exciting time."
Gustard, Harlequins' head of rugby, said: "I am very pleased to be welcoming another Cardiff Met graduate to the squad and look forward to the contribution Luke will make at Harlequins in the coming seasons as we look to be consistently competitive.
"Luke is an impressive young man who has terrorised defences at university. We are excited by his potential and believe he has the ability and the mental fortitude to develop his game and have a successful career.
"He is sure to excite our fans with his ability to play through the line, control contact and create opportunities."
Northmore follows Dombrandt, who was also a student at Cardiff Met.
Dombrandt, a back row giant who played for Wales Under-20s before joining the Quins last year, has been a breakout player for the club and was the talk of English rugby after a man of the match display for the Quins against Exeter Chiefs, earning huge praise from the likes of Danny Care, Joe Marler and Stuart Barnes.
Northmore, meanwhile, previously came under the spotlight when his try back in 2017 in a Championship clash with Glynneath attracted the attention of former Wales and British and Irish Lions legend Martyn Williams.
Former Wales international Lee Jarvis says he can't believe a Welsh region didn't pick up Northmore.
