Ruan Ackermann to quit Gloucester despite signing contract extension

Ruan Ackermann is heading for the exit door at Gallagher Premiership strugglers Gloucester and is set for a move to Japan where he will be playing for Yokohama Canon Eagles next season.

Fissler Confidential exclusively revealed last Saturday, just hours after the previous night’s EPCR Challenge Cup final defeat at the hands of the Sharks, that the South African back-rower was in discussions with Gloucester about a shock departure from the English club.

The 28-year-old made 151 appearances for the Cherry and Whites since moving from the Lions in 2017 when his father Johan was appointed head coach at Kingsholm.

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He had been touted for a move back to South Africa and held talks with the Lions earlier in the season. However, in February he opted to commit his future to Gloucester and sign a new contract with the Premiership Rugby Cup winners.

Despite agreeing to stay in the West Country and George Skivington hailing it as a great coup, Ackermann continued to attract interest from Japan where Ackermann Snr has just led Urayasu D-Rocks to a promotion back to the top flight.

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Yokohama Canon Eagles, who last weekend lost the Japan League One third-place play-off game 33-40 to Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath, have now won the race to sign him up on what is understood to be a lucrative two-year deal.

The Canon Eagles had a strong South African influence in their squad this season, with Faf de Klerk, Kobus van Dyk, Jesse Kriel, Rohan Janse van Rensburg and SP Marais all plying their trade with the club.

Ackermann said Gloucester felt like a “second home” after agreeing to stay on earlier this year. He had been a potential wildcard for England’s Rugby World Cup squad last year after his name came up in a conversation between Skivington and Steve Borthwick.