Gloucester sign All Black Somerville
Gloucester have signed New Zealand prop Greg Somerville on a two-and-a-half-year contract, it has been announced. The Canterbury Crusaders star will move to the Guinness Premiership in December, and his signing is a major coup for the Kingsholm-based club.
Somerville, 30, is the most capped All Black prop of all time, having clocked up his 59th appearance for his country in Saturday's defeat of England.
And Gloucester coach Dean Ryan admitted it was only the economic advantages of the northern hemisphere, which has seen the likes of Chris Jack and Luke McAlister move to England, which made the deal possible.
"The market is now making players of Greg's experience, calibre and undoubted expertise available and once we appreciated his interest and desire to add significantly to our squad, we were thrilled to sign him," Ryan told last season's Guinness Premiership semi-finalist's official website.
"To have represented the All Blacks in more than 50 Test matches and be versatile to operate on either side of the scrum, means he is an outstanding acquisition for us at this stage of his career."
And Somerville insisted he moved for the opportunity to experience another culture and to test himself in a new environment.
"I have achieved virtually everything possible in New Zealand rugby and to have represented the All Blacks will always be something very special to me," he said.
"But this opportunity has developed and the chance to experience a new culture for myself and my family, and contribute to a side that is already right at the top of the English Premiership was an exciting opportunity to take up.
"I am looking forward to contributing to Dean Ryan's side and prove myself in different conditions and against different opponents. Gloucester's front row options are already very talented and I am looking forward to adding to that mix next season."
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