Lock Cardall is linked with Kingsholm move
GLOUCESTER have been linked with interest in signing Wasps second row Tim Cardall ahead of their clash this weekend.
The Rugby Paper reports the Cherry and Whites are taking a look at the Wasps second row as they look to add some depth to their options in the engine room of the pack.
Former lock George Skivington, who is now of course head coach at Kingsholm, has already added two locks since joining the club over the summer, signing former Bath captain Matt Garvey and former Exeter Chiefs second row Ollie Atkins.
Cardall joined Wasps from Championship outfit Nottingham two years ago but is out of contract at the Ricoh Arena at the end of the season.
The 23-year-old, who started in Wasps’ 23-20 victory over Bristol Bears on Sunday with captain Joe Launchbury away with England, is reportedly looking for a three-year deal.
The Rugby Paper reports Harlequins and Worcester Warriors are also interested in Cardall.
Last week Skivington brought in scrum half Will Flinn on-loan from Hartpury RFC needing cover in the key position with England star Willi Heinz expected to be out with a calf injury for another three weeks and Stephen Varney on international duty with Italy.
Joe Simpson started at nine in the 38-15 defeat to Leicester Tigers on Saturday and will almost certainly do so again this weekend against Wasps.
Scrum half Flinn, joined Hartpury over the summer from fellow Championship side Coventry.
The Exmouth RFC product formerly played in the Premiership Rugby Cup for local rivals Bath.
Meanwhile, French superstar Virimi Vakatawa has signed a new deal to extend his stay at beaten Heineken Champions Cup finalists Racing 92, dashing hopes of a potential switch to Kingsholm.
In September Gloucester were reported to have made ‘a colossal offer’ to land the French international centre who was also attracting interest from Bath and Northampton.
Fijian born 28-year-old Vakatawa, who has 27 caps for France having qualified for the national side through residency, was the top scorer in the Top 14 in 2019/20 before the season was abandoned having crossed the line for 13 tries.
He was on the shortlist for European Player of the Year last season and scored a vital try for France in their Autumn Nations Cup victory over Scotland on Sunday.
Vakatawa, who is also a former sevens star, was out of contract at Racing 92 at the end of the season.
Gloucester’s centre options this season are: Billy Twelvetrees, 31, Mark Atkinson, 30, Chris Harris, 29, Henry Trinder, 31, and Matt Banahan, 33.
On Saturday Gloucester set a Gallagher Premiership record for naming an entire back line all over the age of 30 for the first time in the competition’s history, with many of the club’s young talents away on international duty.