By Cherry Picker
June 24 2008
Lock Adam Eustace is returning to his home-town club, Gloucester, after a year with Llanelli Scarlets. He is one of two forwards added to the squad by coach dean Ryan, prop Dave Young moving from Leicester Tigers to Kingsholm. Both have signed one-year contracts and say they are looking forward to joining the Glaws squad.
And there could be an even bigger signing later when an All Blacks prop joins the club.
Eustace was with Glaws for eight years before going to Wales, making almost 200 appearances.
He told the club website: “Gloucester is my home-town club and I am thrilled to be returning. The year I spent away was hugely beneficial because it allowed me to experience a new culture and increase my understanding of what it takes to compete the top level in Europe.
“To have the opportunity to come back to Kingsholm and press for a first team place in one of the best squads in the Guinness Premiership is a massive challenge but one I am really motivated to achieve.”
Young, meanwhile, is a top-rated tight-head who made his debut two seasons ago and has played 13 senior games for Tigers.
With Patrice Collazo leaving and Christian Califano retiring, it looks as if a world-class prop could be following Young to Kingsholm after reports that All Blacks star Greg Somerville (right) has agreed a deal.
The 22-year-old Young said: “To get an opportunity at a club like Gloucester at this stage of my career is not only very humbling given their history but also a great chance to further my career. The chance to join Gloucester, with their long-term vision for success, outstanding squad of players and training facilities was something I could not refuse.
“They are making it their business to attract some of the best players in the country and I know the hard work starts now for me but I am invigorated by the challenge of it.”
Ryan told the club site: “Dave has got the right credentials and attitude to become a very good player and that is what attracted him to us.
“We already have a number of excellent props but it is a position that new, emerging talent can be difficult to get hold of and I that is why we moved quickly to sign him when we learned he was available.”
There is no comment from the club yet in reports from New Zealand that Somerville is joining Glaws, though the deal does appear to have been agreed, and is merely awaiting confirmation from Kingsholm. He is unlikely to join the club until halfway through the domestic season at the end of the year, according to NZ reports.