Mostert rumpus appears at an end

Gloucester name South Africa international lock in their squad to face Worcester

THE Franco Mostert saga appears to have finally been resolved as Gloucester Rugby have named the South Africa star in their matchday squad for today’s Gallagher Premiership clash against local rivals Worcester Warriors.

Mostert joined up with the squad this week after playing for the Springboks in the autumn internationals, but Kingsholm head coach Johan Ackermann said at Tuesday’s media session that they were still awaiting international clearance from World Rugby to register him as a Gloucester player.

It follows a dispute with his former club the Lions, who complained to the global governing body of ‘irregular player movement’.

However, Mostert, pictured, is included among the replacements for Gloucester’s derby clash with Worcester at Kingsholm, and is set to make his debut for the club.

Jake Polledri is also on the bench after returning from international duty with Italy.

Gloucester have made four alterations to the starting line-up following their defeat at Exeter Chiefs with another eye-opening selection being Owen Williams at inside centre.

It is the Wales international’s first Premiership start of the season and it will be the first time he has played in the same team as fly-half Danny Cipriani. Henry Trinder has made way with Billy Twelvetrees now at 13.

Hooker James Hanson and flanker Jaco Kriel have also been named in the side after missing the last game through injury, while Josh Hohneck is picked at loosehead instead of exWorcester man Val Rapava-Ruskin.

Worcester are seventh in the

Premiership standings after beating Harlequins 13-10 in their last league outing.

Ackermann said: “Worcester is going to be a massive challenge, they’re a quality side and are well coached and are going to test us on all fronts.

“They’re defensively very strong, they have big forwards and quite an explosive back line – they’ll be a big challenge.

“Whilst I feel that we’ve made Kingsholm a tough place to come to in the past 12 or 14 months, we didn’t play our best game here last season against them.

“That was a big fight and we expect nothing less this weekend. They haven’t been beaten badly in any game, because of the quality of their team and the fight that they put up.

“They will have taken confidence from their result last weekend and travel won’t be a factor. It’ll be tough.”

Ruan Ackermann and Mark Atkinson are among the players unavailable to Gloucester.