FORMER Newcastle Falcons utility back Ben Mercer is set to sign for Plymouth Albion in the next few days, Herald Sport can reveal.

Mercer, 21, began his career with Bath before moving to Premiership club Newcastle, where he spent the 2006-07 season.

The winger (pictured left), who can also play centre, moved to National Division Two side Blaydon in August 2007 where he produced a string of impressive performances.

Last campaign, Mercer was a regular in their starting XV, making 21 league starts and scoring seven tries in a struggling team.

Mercer, who is 5ft 11in and weighs 94kg, has represented England Under-19s South, and South West Academies Under-19s.

He was also named in the England Students squad in 2007/08.

His imminent arrival at Brickfields will add to chairman of rugby Graham Dawe's options in the backs.

Squad members – including scrum-halves Greg Nicholls and Matt Newman, centres Arran Cruickshanks and Ross Allan, winger Justin Mensah-Coker, utility back Tom Jarvis and fly-half Ross Laidlaw – have all moved on this summer.

However, Albion have retained key players from last season such as fly-halves Kieran Hallett and Alex Davies, utility back Geoff Griffiths, winger Liam Gibson and centre Matt Hopper.

To add to them, former Exeter Chief Gary Kingdom has been officially confirmed as a new recruit, while Sione Tu'ipulotu and Ruairi Cushion are among other players set to join the club.

Mercer's arrival will add to the competition for places when Albion embark on their first term in the newly-formed Championship.

Youngsters Steve Johns and Mark Lee, both utility backs, are also set to be promoted to the first team squad.

Meanwhile, Albion have been boosted by Martin Rice's decision to re-sign for the 2009-10 campaign.

Rice, who has been at Albion since February 2005, is one of the most highly-rated props outside of the Premiership.

Last season, he made 17 starts and two replacement appearances, despite missing four months of the season after sustaining a knee ligament injury against Bedford last November.

Rice, who will celebrate his 27th birthday on Friday, is expected to line up alongside fellow prop Ryan Hopkins in Albion's front-row next term.

However, the duo are expected to receive competition for places from Danny Porte and ex-Lydney player George Porter.

Ivybridge Community College teacher Porte made four starts and five replacement appearances in the final three months of last season after he moved to Brickfields in January from Launceston.

England Under-18 international Porter made 23 starts and four replacement appearances for National League Division Three South side Lydney last term.

He, too, is expected to sign for Albion in the next few days.