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London Irish have added talented youngsters Scott Steele and Conor Gilsenan to their squad for next season.

Scrum-half Steele, aged 20, is in his third year at Leicester Tigers, while 21-year-old back-row forward Gilsenan is currently on loan at Connacht from Leinster until the end of the season.

Steele captained the Leicester side that finished runners-up in last summer's Premiership Rugby 7s final, but has found his first-team chances few and far between at the club.

After joining Tigers academy from Dumfries Vikings in 2011, his first season ended with a debut in an LV= Cup semi-final victory over Bath and his first Premiership appearance against Newcastle.

Last season, however, he didn’t get a sniff and this season he has found himself behind England's Ben Youngs, David Mele and Sam Harrison in the pecking order.

Steele, a recognised goal-kicker, managed to force his way into the reckoning for the Scotland Under-20 squad last summer.

He was Scotland’s No.9 for their Junior World Championship campaign, usurping Edinburgh’s Sam Hidalgo-Clyne and Ali Price as the first choice, having played a bit-part role during the Six Nations.

He is also an English qualified player.

Steele said: "Having spoken with the coaches at London Irish I feel this is a very good move for me.

"They play a very quick brand of rugby, which I feel will suit me, and working alongside Tomás O'Leary will help develop my game further."

A promising footballer in his youth, Steele was on the books of Kilmarnock and Queen of the South as a right-back.

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Gilsenan, an abrasive openside flanker, starred for the Leinster A team which won the British & Irish Cup last year.

His performances as captain of Leinster A this season prompted Connacht to take him on loan as injury cover in the RaboDirect Pro12.

Gilsenan is a former Junior and Senior Cup-winning captain with Clongowes Wood College, and has played at Under-18, U-19 and U-20 levels for Ireland.

He said: "I'm excited at the challenge of moving across to London Irish to play in the Premiership.

"It's a competitive league with some great players and I feel it is the right time to make the move.

"I've thoroughly enjoyed my time at Leinster and would like to thank everyone for what they have done for me during my time with the club."

London Irish director of rugby Brian Smith said: "Both Scott and Conor are really promising players.

"Scott is a talented scrum-half with a terrific skill set and Conor is a back rower who plays with enormous intensity.

"Both guys are quality players and good professionals and will add plenty of depth to our squad next season."

Smith first tried to land new London Irish signing nine years ago