The Exiles secured promotion to English rugby’s top flight earlier this month after they beat pre-season favourites Bristol in a two-legged play-off final by an aggregate scoreline of 48-28.
Head coach Justin Burnell stated immediately after promotion that his side would need 12-15 signings to compete at the top level and he has now surpassed that target after the 33-year-old Molenaar agreed a move to the Kassam Stadium.
Molenaar, who was born in New Zealand, made 19 appearances for Quins last TERM and started their Premiership semi-final defeat to Saracens having joined Conor O’Shea and co from Gloucester partway through the season. He had spent four seasons at Kingsholm and was an LV= Cup winner in 2011 having previously made more than a century of appearances for Championship outfit Nottingham.
“This is another important piece of our recruitment plans for next season. Tim is another player with a lot of Premiership experience that we had targeted and he will provide a physicality that will complement our other centres and give us various combinations in the midfield,” said Burnell.
Molenaar becomes the second player to join London Welsh this week after Gloucester hooker Koree Britton put pen to paper on Monday.
A former Grand Slam winner with England U20, Britton played 17 times for Gloucester and ended last season on loan at English Champions Northampton Saints.
“Koree will add some serious competition to an already talented group of hookers. He brings Premiership experience and has the size and physicality we are looking for in building our squad of forwards,” added Burnell.
“He also possesses the attitude and approach which is consistent with the environment that we have strived to build at the Club, and we are delighted that he has decided to sign for us.”
