Gloucester reportedly snap up Maguire

GLOUCESTER have signed Irish prop Conor Maguire from PRO14 side the Dragons, according to reports coming out of Wales.

The South Wales Argus reports Maguire, 23, has left the Dragons after securing a deal with the Cherry and Whites, who sit bottom of the Gallagher Premiership.

Maguire, who is 5ft 10ins and 15st 8lbs, moved from Leinster, where he was on the fringes of the training squad, to Rodney Parade last March to fill a void left by an injury crisis in the front row at the Welsh club.

After arriving he made a brief cameo against Benetton in the Guinness PRO14 but then the competition was halted because of the coronavirus pandemic.

However, the loosehead, who is nicknamed ‘The Bull’, returned after lockdown and played in the Dragons’ derby fixtures against the Ospreys and Scarlets in August, impressing enough to earn a short-term deal to cover for injuries.

He went on to make substitute appearances against Leinster, Munster, Glasgow and BordeauxBegles making seven appearances in all.

Maguire enjoyed a successful age grade career as he came through the ranks of Boyne RFC in Louth and went on to play underage rugby for Leinster at U18, U19, and U20 levels, as well as representing Ireland U18s and U19s.

In 2016, Maguire made a move to Old Wesley RFC, where he has played for four years, impressing in the AIL while also winning caps for Ireland Universities and Ireland Clubs.

Originally a hooker, he switched to loosehead prop at Old Wesley and has seen his career flourish since.

Gloucester’s other options at loosehead prop are Val Rapava Ruskin, Alex Seville, Jay Tyack and Olly Adkins.

Ruskin has been one of the club’s best players this season but questions remain about the depth behind him.