Woodville West Torrens defender Rhyan Mansell has signed with Richmond via the Supplementary Selection Period (SSP).

The Tigers lodged paperwork on Thursday to sign the exciting 20-year-old defender, who is a three-time premiership player with North Launceston.

Mansell has been training at Punt Road since January 7 and has secured one of two available list spots at Richmond, with Nick Couroupis (West Adelaide), Jordan Gallucci (Williamstown), Josh Green (Marist AFC, ACT) and Derek Eggmolesse-Smith (delisted Tiger) fighting for the last position.

“We have always liked his stuff because he suited what we like in a player; super competitive, physical, (and with) really good speed,” Tiger recruitment boss Matt Clarke told Richmond Media.

“He has Richmond qualities and that ability to come in hard and tackle.

“He played footy, but he was in the cricket pathways. He also played soccer mainly as a kid, so he was not in all the (football) squads like a lot of kids are.

“To go into Woodville West Torrens last year under an excellent coach (Jade Sheedy) and into a great footy club and brilliantly run organisation was fantastic.

“When he went there from Tasmania, it gave us confidence he could do well, and he obviously fitted into a really good team and won a flag, which was a big tick.

“We watched all his vision and the live streaming last year, but it is just not the same as actually being there.

“So, to be able to get him over here to train was great and a chance for us to also see how he could fit into our system and how quickly he would be able to learn, which he has.

“We have been able to have a bit of a look at how he might adapt to the way we play and defend, and he has coped really well.”

Richmond will have until March 9 to fill their remaining list spot via the SSP or could opt for the Mid-Season Rookie Draft on June 2.

See who is training at your club ahead of the 2021 season here.