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Gloucester Rugby have confirmd the signing of South African international lock Franco Mostert from the Lions.
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Springbok second row Mostert arrives in the form of his life after playing a key part in the Lions’ march to the 2017 Super Rugby final, and was last week named in the South African squad for the summer test series with England.
In the current Super Rugby campaign, Mostert has been an ever-present for the Johannesburg based outfit, displaying his leadership skills in captaining the side, and his versatility operating at both flanker and in the more familiar second row.
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A player whose signature has been highly sought-after across Europe, the 27-year-old second row was keen to renew his relationship with Johan Ackermann and will be reunited with his former Coach in Cherry and White this summer.
Often topping the tackle charts and line out catches, Mostert’s arrival adds even more world class quality to the second row options for the Cherry and Whites, alongside Ed Slater, Tom Savage, Mariano Galarza and the recently announced new signing Gerbrandt Grobler.
Mostert began his career with the Blue Bulls in Pretoria, before switching to Johannesburg with the Lions, making over 50 appearances for the Ellis Park team to date, including captaining the team for much of the current Super Rugby campaign, and playing a key part in the franchise’s improvements in recent seasons.
Standing at 6’6″ tall, the imposing South African has racked up 18 appearances for his country to date, scoring his first international try last Autumn against Italy.
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Mostert also represented the Ricoh Black Rams in the Japanese Top League, before he returned to Super Rugby with the Lions.
Director of Rugby David Humphreys is thrilled that Mostert will be joining the Cherry and Whites next season.
“Franco has proved to be one of the stars of Super Rugby, and we are delighted that he will be playing in Cherry and White next season.
“We know the Gloucester fans love their physical, hard-working forwards, and Franco is exactly that. He has so many quality attributes, and this is a big sign of our intent as a squad to push to the next level.
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“Obviously Franco is a player that Johan is very familiar with, and Franco will know what Johan expects from his players, and he is the type of character that will fit in well to our squad.
“He is a current international, and has been captaining the Lions throughout the Super Rugby season, so he displays leadership skills that will again benefit our squad.
“With the squad looking forward to the challenges of Champions Cup rugby this coming season, we need quality throughout our squad as at times it will be tested, and Franco adds to our second-row stocks, in an area of real strength and depth.”
Mostert is excited for a new chapter in his career, for him and his young family, and is looking forward to the tests in Cherry and White.
“I’m excited about this move, because it’s a new chapter in our lives. I’m excited to learn about the English league, and also the values of my new team, and the things I’ve heard from other players are very positive. I hope to bring a new energy to the team.
“I am beyond excited to link up with Coach Akkies [Johan Ackermann] again, we have come a long way together, it wasn’t always the easy way but that is why I have so much respect for him as a coach, and as a role model. He has had a big influence on my life in more ways than one.
“I am always excited and ready for new adventures, and it is nice to have a new challenge and I like a challenge, as it pushes me to be the best and keeps me driven.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Except for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
33 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
33 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
33 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
33 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
33 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
33 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
1 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
33 Go to commentsArdie’s preferred position 7? Where do they get these writers from? I've no idea where he's playing in Japan, but the previous two seasons he wore the 7 jersey exactly twice.
17 Go to commentsNot good to hear Ulster described as “financially troubled”. Did not think it was getting to that level. I would hope the Irish system of spreading players of talent away from Leinster would kick in now. Better to have a Leinster fringe player with Ulster or Connacht, then getting only a few games a season in Dublin. 10, for example, would seem to be a case for spreading the talent. I would not be at all adverse to a SA man coming in as head coach/DR. Ludeke is worth trying. Certainly got a long and impressive coaching career at this level…..149 games in SR, then Japan, 30 years experience. And Ulster’s ledger of successful SA coaches and players is on the positive side. Is talk of Ruan Pienaar interested in coming back as a coach…..could be a good combination with Ludeke. And Pienaar and family would have no settling in to do, one would judge. He loved life in Ulster when there, by all reports.
1 Go to commentsSome thoughts to consider here, Sam. Thanks
2 Go to comments