Ospreys go for Gleave in loan deal

THE Ospreys have brought in Todd Gleave from Gloucester after seeing two hookers ruled out for the remainder of the season.

Dewi Lake (ankle) and Scott Otten (neck) will miss the Rainbow Cup.

Head coach Toby Booth has Sam Parry and Ifan Phillips on hand, but a bump to one of those would leave the Ospreys with major problems – hence the move for Gleave.

The 25-year-old has been signed on loan for the rest of the campaign.

Hailing from Sussex, he has made 20 appearances for the Cherry and Whites after joining from London Irish, with whom he spent three seasons.

Gleave had earlier been part of the Bath academy and had spells with London Scottish and Rosslyn Park.

Extending his contract last autumn, Gloucester head coach George Skivington said of him: “Todd is a consummate professional and a great player to have at the club. His commitment to his profession is outstanding.

“He still has plenty more potential to develop and we are looking forward to seeing him progress over the coming seasons.”

What a difference a year makes for Otten.

Twelve months ago he was named in the Guinness PRO14 Conference A team of the campaign after a standout season which prompted the league’s official website to write of him: “With 84 lineouts won, 79 carries and a couple of tries to his name, he has been a star for the Welsh outfit.”

But this term hasn’t really happened for him, with the Waunarlwydd product making just two Guinness PRO14 appearances.

Lake will hope for better fortune next time, too.

Called into the Wales’s Six Nations squad last year, the highly-rated former Wales U20s captain has suffered more than one untimely knock and will want to use next term to put himself back on track.