Gloucester Rugby sign hooker Charles on short term deal

Posted on Aug 19, 2011 in Gloucester

Gloucester Rugby can today confirm that they have signed Western Force hooker Nathan Charles on a short term deal.

22 year old Charles, who has recently finished the Super Rugby season with the Western Force, moves to Kingsholm on a short team deal as Argentinian international Matias Cortese has had surgery on a minor knee injury.

Cortese’s injury, along with Scott Lawson’s absence on Scotland international duty, means that Gloucester Rugby enter their preseason friendly campaign with only two fit hookers in England U20 international Koree Britton and Darren Dawidiuk.

Charles started his Super Rugby career with the ACT Brumbies and is a former Australian Schoolboys and U20s international.

And in October 2010 at 21 years of age, he was selected to the Qantas Wallabies Training Squad for the 2010 Spring Tour.

Currently on tour in Samoa with the Western Force, he will link up with the Gloucester Rugby squad very shortly and will be a welcome addition to the squad according to Head Coach Bryan Redpath:

“Nathan’s a very highly rated hooker in Australia. He’s got Super Rugby experience and has trained with the Wallabies.  We’re fortunate to be able to bring him in to cover Matias’ absence.”

“We had to act because if anything happened to Koree or Darren in the preseason games, we’d have no hooker cover for the start of the Aviva Premiership season. So, it’ll be good to have him on board.” 

Australian team to play Cardiff Blues – Matt Toomua to start

Posted on Nov 23, 2009 in Rugby News

Australia Under-20 and Brumbies flyhalf Matt Toomua will make his senior debut for his country after being named today in the Qantas Wallabies side to tackle the Cardiff Blues tomorrow night.

The selection of Toomua, 19, is one of three personnel changes to the starting line-up from the Australian side which won its opening midweek match of the tour at Gloucester.

The others see Pekahou Cowan included to start at loosehead prop, in the place of Salesi Ma’afu, after coming off the bench as a hooker against Gloucester.

Ma’afu is relegated to the bench, after featuring on the tighthead side of the scrum at Gloucester, with Sekope Kepu switching from loosehead to tighthead to accommodate the inclusion of Cowan.

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Australia: Smith starts, Ioane at centre – squad announcement

Posted on Nov 5, 2009 in Rugby News

The return of George Smith to the starting XV, and the selection of an entirely new midfield combination featuring Digby Ioane and Quade Cooper, are the key changes to the Qantas Wallabies starting line-up that has been named today for Saturday’s Cook Cup Test against England in London.

Smith, the game’s fifth most capped player, has swapped roles with the Western Force 21-year-old David Pocock from last week. He will play in his 107th Test.

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