AA - gone

By Cherry Picker
June 19 2009

Gloucester’s summer signings are probably over as the club confirms the capture of four new forwards at the same time as centre Anthony Allen leaves the club for Leicester Tigers. Last season’s inconsistency and the form shown in the late-season slump that saw Glaws drop out of the GP reckoning and hammered in the EDF Final suggested a clear-out was needed, and that’s what we’ve had. Coach Dean Ryan has gone and 12 players, most of them high-profile members of the squad, will also not be around in 2009-10, but new coach Bryan Redpath says the team will compete next season, while owner Tom Walkinshaw goes even further and feels it is strong enough to win something.  
Let's hope none of those who have left the club come back to bite Glaws on the collective bum next season.
French prop Pierre Capdevielle heads the list of newcomers, though at the ripe old age of 35 the former Brive man is hardly likely to be an ever-present.
However, his pedigree is good and the move means he rejoins former Montferrand team-mate Olivier Azam.
Glaws have also confirmed the signing of Tynedale prop Rupert Harden, hooker Dan Dawidiuk from Cornish Pirates and Bristol lock Dave Attwood.
Glaws have now signed nine new players since the end of last season, London Welsh prop Paul Doran-Jones, Cardiff fly-half Nicky Robinson, Wasps winger Tom Voyce, Leicester three-quarter Seru Rabeni and Bath centre Eliota Fuimanono-Sapolu joining today’s four.
Joining Allen through the exit doors are Carlos Nieto, David Young, Jack Forster, Gareth Cooper, Ryan Lamb, Mark Foster, Dan Norton, Olly Barkley, Jack Adams, Iain Balshaw and Willie Walker have left Kingsholm since that sad ending to last season.
Now it’s up to Redpath to show he can do something with his squad after both he and TW have stated they are looking for more passion and more pride in the jersey than we saw last season.

AA joins Tigers as Glaws sign four forwards

Discussion started by Shedloads (IP Logged), 19/06/2009 10:57

Shedloads
19/06/2009 10:57

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Andy_m
21/06/2009 09:23

Good riddance to AA. Never showed anything for two seasons. Too lightweight and provided a nice easy channel for opposition teams to stroll to the try line.

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cheerycherry
21/06/2009 22:09

That's harsh Andy. Bearing in mind AA was doing his defensive work plus most of Lamb's when they played together and it is not surprising he struggled. I agree he didnt show a lot last season but it was heavily disrupted by injury and I doubt he was helped or indeed overly pleased with Glaws' tactical approach. I for one think Glaws will miss him and it will be interesting to see how he does at Tigers.

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Two Sheds
22/06/2009 12:46

The same applies to AA as all the others who have left ... please don't let them come back and haunt us.

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gaz909
22/06/2009 15:53

well no doubt that nicky robinson is a very good signing but the rest are pretty much under whelming

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Two Sheds
22/06/2009 17:36

They are, but look where being overwhelmed has got us in the past.

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cheerycherry
23/06/2009 01:00

I think there will be a no frills approach from Glaws next season and players such as Rabeni are required for that, nothing flash but you know what you are getting. Hopefully the plan will be to suck in defenders with the likes of Rabeni and Tinds boshing over the gainline then get decent, quick ball away to give the likes of Morgan, Sinbad and Sharples half a yard free from props and locks idling about at outside centre.

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