Gloucester linked with swoop to sign Grace
GLOUCESTER are reported to be looking to steal a march on West Country rivals Bath and sign former rugby league star Regan Grace right from under their noses.
Grace made his union debut this month, nearly two years after making the switch from rugby league as his move from Super League side St Helens to French top 14 side Racing 92 was wrecked by injury.
The 27-year-old Welshman has signed a short-term contract with Bath, with whom he has been going through the final stages of rehab on the ruptured Achilles which ruined his Paris adventure.
Grace impressed when he started for Bath in a friendly against Gloucester at the Recreation ground and despite not scoring a try, he appears to have done enough to catch the eye of the Gloucester recruitment team.
Grace is understood to have signed a contract with Bath until the end of the season with Johann van Grann considering whether to add him to his official Premiership roster for the run into the end of the season.
Bath now look forced into making a decision over his future at the club sooner, rather than later, with Gloucester boss George Skivington keen to add a second winger to his squad ahead of the 2024/25 season.
Gloucester have confirmed the addition of Christian Wade, who willl move to Kingsholm from Racing 92 in the summer - Wade, ironically, was brought to Racing as an injury replacement for Grace.
Gloucester continue to be linked with wingers with the future of former England star Jonny May currently unknown.
May, England’s second all-time highest try scorer in the men’s international game, has reportedly been told he must accept a pay cut to remain at Kingsholm beyond his current contract which expires in the summer, with Saracens reportedly interested in his services as well.
The Cherry and Whites have confirmed the departure of Alex Hearle in the summer to Newcastle and with Louis Rees-zammit leaving the club in January to pursue his dream of becoming an NFL player, Gloucester look short of a winger despite the emergence of the likes of Josh Hathaway from the club’s academy.