London Scottish head coach Simon Amor has insisted strength in depth will be the key to surviving the Championship relegation play-offs this year, writes Stuart Amos.

Amor beefed up his options this week by signing experience London Welsh winger Gerard Mullen, Worcester Warriors hooker Ollie Hayes (dual registration) and Tasman Makos back row Zane Winslade.

The Exiles, who host Nottingham at the Athletic Ground this weekend, are all-but certain to be in the division’s bottom four come the end of the regular season.

And Amor believed his men would have the quality to ensure survival.

“It is critical to have strength in depth, especially as we have been hit by our fair share of injuries like most squads in this league,” he said.

“We’ve been looking at the right sort of people first and foremost – people that have the right attitude and who will fit in well with our current group of players.

“These additions will provide extra quality to help us with the remainder of the campaign.”

Meanwhile have added a further big name signing to their camp after announcing HRH Princess Anne, The Princess Royal, is to become patron of the Athletic Ground club.

Princess Anne is patron of more than 200 charities – as well as the Scottish Rugby Union – and it was thought this would mark the first occasion that she had become patron of an individual rugby club.

London Scottish president Rod Lynch said: “This is a great and unique honour for London Scottish. Despite being the busiest member of the Royal Family in terms of engagements, I have no doubt she will be attending a number of our games and functions in the coming years.”