Harlequins director of rugby Conor O'Shea has thanked Darlington Mowden Park coach Danny Brown for allowing tight head prop Matt Shields to switch to the Stoop four months ahead of schedule.

The 24-year-old confirmed a permanent move to the former Premiership champions this week having impressed in loan appearances for the club's A League and LV= Cup teams in recent weeks.

The former Newcastlle Falcons academy graduate, who has signed until the end of next season, comes in to boost O'Shea's front row options with Will Collier and Paul Doran Jones currently on the treatment table.

"We are delighted to welcome Matt on board and see him as a player with real potential who we can really develop here," said O'Shea.

"I would like to thank Danny Brown and everyone at Darlington Mowden Park who bring the meaning of putting the player first, to life.

"We could easily have looked at bringing in a journey man, but we would prefer to look at the long term potential the player has and we wanted to start that development process now rather than wait until the summer.”

And Shield, who once appeared in the same England U18 squad as Collier in 2009, is keen to take his chance in the top flight.

"It's a huge honour for me personally to join Harlequins," he added.

"It's a fantastic club with a great tradition and culture.

"I am looking forward to seeing this season out and building for next year working alongside Conor O'Shea, John Kingston, Tony Diprose and the other members of the coaching team to develop my game.

"It's a fantastic opportunity and I'm really looking forward to it.

"I'd also like to thank Darlington for giving me the chance to pursue this opportunity early and for being so supportive during the process.”