Gloucester bring in Williams to fill the Hook void

LEICESTER fly-half Owen Williams will leave Welford Road this summer after agreeing terms with Gloucester, as revealed in

The Rugby Paper last week. The move, believed to be worth around £400,000 a season, will see Williams end a three-year partnership with Tigers.

Following the announced departures of James Hook and Greig Laidlaw, director of rugby David Humphreys has moved quickly to bolster his fly-half options around Billy Burns.

“I am really looking forward to joining Gloucester next season and facing new challenges in my rugby career,” said Williams.

Williams was the third signing of the week for the Cherry and Whites who also reinforced their front row with tighthead Fraser Balmain from Leicester and loosehead Val Rapava Ruskin from Worcester

Matt Kvesic will leave Kingsholm, having signed for Exeter, while Bath have secured the services of openside Sam Hunderhill.

The 20-year-old had one year left on his Ospreys contract but, given his desire to play for England and Bath paying a reported £150,000 fee, he was allowed to leave the Welsh region.

There was better news in Leicester as Phil Betham, Dom Barrow, Will Evans and Graham Kitchener all penned new deals to remain at the club.

Saracens have confirmed the arrival of Wales fullback Liam Williams from the Scarlets, who managed to retain the services of Steffan Evans, while Bristol have added former All Black scrum-half Alby Mathewson to their ranks with immediate effect.

London Welsh lost two more players this week with Aaron Carpenter off to Doncaster and Josh McNally joining London Irish. Bedford centre Tom Farrell has answered an SOS call form Connacht and left Bedford.

It was a case of one in one out for Ealing Trailfinders as Rayn Smid joined from Bristol but Calum Wilson is off to Rotherham.

Scottish internationals Tommy Seymour and Tim Swinson have signed new deals to remain with Glasgow while Hamish Watson will stay at Edinburgh for another three years.