Bristol have made an absolutely fantastic signing in Alex Crockett. Whoever thought that one up should take a massive round of applause – because he can be a crucial player at the business end of the season.

He is a very good Guinness Premiership player and the type of signing that can make the difference between staying in the Championship and going up.

As far as I am concerned, this is a massive coup for Bristol Rugby. He is an outstanding player who has the potential to be a massive asset to the club.

I don't think it is in any way wrong that Bristol Rugby have signed him. He has done his crime and is doing his time.

And let's be clear about this: he didn't get found guilty of taking drugs.

He paid the price for not taking two drugs tests – and that price was a nine-month ban, which he is still serving.

But in March he will be free to play – and mark my words, if Bristol Rugby had not signed him, someone else would have.

Imagine if Exeter had snapped him up. I bet they are now thinking that they have really missed out.

I take on board what people say about his arrival unsettling the centres Bristol currently have on their books. But this is professional sport and Bristol's target is promotion.

It is now up to the other centres at the club to lift their games and make it difficult for Paul Hull to pick Crockett when he becomes available.

I remember Alex coming to Bath as a young kid and he always stood out as a talented player. He has had a rocky time off the pitch, but hopefully this experience has galvanised him and made him hungry to return. All in all, I think this is a great bit of business.

Bristol Rugby achieved the bare minimum of four tries and five points against Birmingham & Solihull last weekend, but it will be considerably tougher at Rotherham tomorrow.

It's a proper bear-pit of a ground up there and it's one hell of a journey, too.

Another key factor is that Rotherham have now got Kevin Maggs in their team. He is going to have those boys absolutely bouncing off the walls tomorrow.

He will be raring to go, especially after the way he left Bristol Rugby last season. As a proud Bristolian, who would still be doing an outstanding job for the club had they kept him, that was hard to take.

He may well say this is just another game and that there is no revenge aspect – but I know Maggsy too well and I know what he will really be thinking. This is a genuinely tricky fixture for Bristol and it promises to be a bruising encounter. But it is one they are good enough to win if they get things right on the day.