The former Wales captain Rob Howley will complete his move to Wasps within the next 48 hours, joining the growing band of Welsh-reared players plying their trade in English club rugby.

Howley, who has a year left on his Cardiff contract, had hoped to sign yesterday but a few contractual details have to be hammered out before the 31-year-old scrum-half follows Craig Quinnell (Saracens) and Jonathan Humphreys (Bath) over the Severn Bridge.

The cross-border trend continued yesterday when the Wales Under-21 international lock Scott Morgan signed a three-year contract with Bristol, whom he left last year after accepting terms from Llanelli.

Bristol have also signed the former London Irish and Harlequins scrum-half Peter Richards as back-up to Argentina's Agustin Pichot.

Mike Catt has committed himself to Bath until 2004 and Tony Roques has signed a deal to remain at Saracens for at least two more years.

Ben Johnston (Saracens) and Fraser Walters (Wasps) have withdrawn from England's provisional 20-man squad for the Commonwealth Games sevens, being replaced by London Irish's Michael Horak and the former England rugby league winger Marcus St Hilaire, 25, who has been released by Leeds Rhinos.

· Leicester have taken more than £2m in advance season ticket sales after winning the Heineken Cup and Zurich Premiership last season.