The young England A full-back was in the Cardiff team which came to the Stoop this season in the group section of the European Heinekan Cup when the Welsh avenged an earlier defeat in Cardiff by Quins to gain their place in the quarter finals.

The London club had entered into contract negotiations with Botham junior, who started his career as a school boy at full back, as they continue rebuilding for next season and look to develop a younger squad for next year's competition.

But he has been snapped up by Rob Andrew's Newcastle Falcons, the team which tried sign before his move to Wales three years ago, and will return to the north east, a place where he considers to be home.

Having shunned a future in cricket after making one first class appearance for Hampshire in 1995, Botham joined Cardiff from West Hartlepool and established himself in the first team of the newly crowned champions of the Welsh/Scottish league.

Earlier this year he committed himself to developing his England career after speculation he may switch his allegiances to Wales.

Rugby stars past and present turned out to pay tribute to England's record breaking international prop forward this week.

Harlequins star Jason Leonard, 31, who next year celebrates his benefit with the club received the shock of his life when Michael Aspel announced on national television - 'Jason Leonard this is your life.'

Among those who paid tribute were ex-England skipper Will Carling, along with Rory Underwood, Mike Teague, Wade Dooley and several members of the England team which so dominated northern hemisphere rugby in the late eighties, early nineties.

Tales were told about the various misdemeanours that occurred around the dressing rooms, his charity work, his early years when he played for Barking, his home town, and his private life away from the game.

This year, during the inaugural Six Nations, the linchpin of the Quins pack since his debut in a game against Belgium in 1990 surpassed Will Carling, his club team mate's, record of caps for England. He overcame a serious neck injury which threatened his career and has played on three British Lions tours.

Quins' dismal run of form in the league continued at the weekend when they were swept aside by the Champions elect Leicester Tigers at the Stoop 54-5. The home side scored their only points through a try from fly-half Rob Liley but they were not up to halting the Tigers' march to the title in front of more the 5,500 fans.

Quins' last game of the season is against Wasps at Loftus Road on May 21.

Redemption

for Surrey in

amazing win

SURREY 34

EASTERN

COUNTIES 28

It's never over until the fat lady sings was certainly the case at Imber Court last Saturday, when Surrey, 20 points adrift midway through the second half, staged an amazing comeback to snatch victory in the dying moments.

Early on a somewhat scrappy first half had Surrey initially in front when Charlie Abban danced in close to the flag following a midfield burst from flanker Kennett. But a penalty, then a try from Woodhouse the lively Counties flanker put the visitors ahead.

Just before the change round some back chat to the referee gifted Surrey three points to have the sides level pegging.

Struggling

Surrey were struggling in the tight scrums, always under pressure from an impressive Counties pack, however in the lineout play Surrey snatched possession time and again, O'Riordan from Effingham and Colgate from Rosslyn Park could do no wrong.

But in the midfield Counties had some strong runners who needed two or three men to pull them down, that created space out wide when Counties switched direction and that left winger Peter Mahoney just enough space to dive in for two tries.

Earlier, replacement Brett, from North Walsham rolled off a maul close to the Surrey line and crashed over. Surrey, three times adrift looked out of it, but out in the backs they always looked as if they had the edge on pace in attack, if only they could get sufficient ball.

fight

It was young Firkin from Effingham who led the fight back, close to the line he evaded the tackles to touch down under the sticks. Kennett the Chobham player, always fiery and determined then bashed his way over from five metres out.

But even then it looked a lost cause with just a few minutes on the clock, their man of the moment was Jimmy Hibbert the centre, Counties were on the attack well inside the Surrey half, but the predatory Hibbert intercepted the move and ran 50 metres to score a converted try.

In the last minute of play Abban collected his second try of the day when perhaps the Counties heads were down.

Surrey won this bottom of the table clash with sheer grit and courage when all looked lost, much to the credit for that must go to the pack who battled it out right to the final whistle.

Welsh Premier hopes rejected by Union

London Welsh coach Clive Griffiths has expressed his disappointment at the clubs rejection by the Welsh Rugby Union board to play in the Welsh-Scottish Premier division for next season.

Comfort

The exiles coach took little comfort in the offer of a place in the first division of the league format.

He said: "I am very disappointed with the result they have made. You have to ask yourself why they have done it.

"We have not been given the real reason why?

"Maybe it was because of the financial situation or because of the parochial element.

"But we have to accept the decision and go ahead ready to probably play in the Allied Premiership two next season."

One of the advantages of staying in the Premiership is that the club will not have to travel to Wales and Scotland 16 times a season a fact Griffiths admits will have an effect on his players.

"If we did accept a place in the first division, we would have to play 32 games in a season and travel long distances to away games at least 16 times.

"This would not only make me tired, but the players would feel the effects of travelling as the season went on."

Knocked out

Having played their last game of the domestic season at Rugby last weekend, the Welsh were knocked out in the pool stages of the Floodlit sevens this week by eventual winners Oxford University.

This weekend (May 14) at the Stoop, Welsh play in the Middlesex Club sevens looking to do well in their pool that includes Harlow, Brunel and Bracknell.

"Although we are playing in this tournament the main priority is next season. We have got a squad playing in this and if we can do well I will be pleased, if we don't its not the end of the world."

Gabey leaves big city and

takes to the countryside

Mark Gabey, a London Irish signing this season, has left the club after agreeing a two year deal with Bath.

The Australian flanker or lock forward returns to the west country after only a year in the capital having been signed from Bristol prior to the start of this season.

A big, abrasive runner and tackler, he was a try scorer on Wednesday night as the Exiles went down 28-26 at his former club Bristol.

With connections in Bristol still strong Gabey, who has been unable to command a regular first choice spot in the Irish back row, has decided to head back down the M4.

Dick Best, Irish Director of Rugby said: "Mark has maintained his house in the Bristol area while he has been with us, so there was always a possibility that he would return to the west country to play."

He joins a resurgent Bath which, with a crop of young home-grown talent at its disposal has emerged as the leading contenders for Leicester's crown this year.

They have gone ten games unbeaten and are currently in second place in the Allied Dunbar Premiership after Northampton's challenge faded.

"Bath will have a tremendous side next season, as few of the existing squad are leaving," said Gabey.

"Andy Robinson is a great coach, and I expect that the club will achieve great heights next season, having battled their way quietly back up the table."

Gabey was believed to have been drafted in to replace the out-going Warwick Waugh, a second rower, who return to Australia for play for ACT Brumbies.

Next Wednesday London Irish play their penultimate game of the season against Wasps at the Stoop, a team they have not beaten since March 1998, kick off 8pm.

The game will be marked by trials of a new radio system linking the referee with supporters allowing them to hear what is going on on the field of play.

Our reporter has given the chance to be one of those taking part in the trial so see next week's Surrey Comet for an insight into the system and the performance of the man in black.

Irish's final game is again at home and against Gloucester on May 20.