» World Rugby poised to step into Mostert tug of war Sport

We’re confident that he’s got a legal contract with us and World Rugby will hopefully soon give us our clearance

Johan Ackermann

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GLOUCESTER are awaiting the green light from World Rugby to play Franco Mostert after his arrival at the club.

The South Africa star met the rest of the Gloucester squad this week but the long-running saga over his move from the Lions is yet to be resolved.

World Rugby were asked to intervene by the South African province, who are fighting to keep the player on the grounds of “irregular player movement,” claiming that negotiations begun with Mostert’s agent while he was still under contract.

Mostert’s contract with Gloucester was due to begin on November 1 but he was playing for the Springboks until last weekend.

Gloucester head coach Johan Ackermann said: “Franco has joined us. He’s in Gloucester, he’s met the squad, he’s here.

“He’s played a lot of 80 minute games so we’ll obviously have to manage him and see but we’re confident that he’s got a legal contract with us and World Rugby will hopefully soon give us our clearance that we can register him and get back on the field.”

The Cherry and Whites have a derby against Worcester at Kingsholm on Saturday before back-to-back Heineken Champions Cup games against Exeter and Ackermann hopes Mostert’s move can be rubberstamped soon.

“The whole thing is being put to World Rugby to make a decision and hopefully it will be one that the player believes will also be taken into account,” he said.

“I think they know the urgency about it. We don’t want to keep a player without work and also we’re keen to get him involved.

“David (Humphreys, Gloucester director of rugby), Steve (Vaughan, chief executive), the club, World Rugby is involved with it so hopefully common sense will prevail.”