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Gloucester Rugby battling Leicester Tigers and Saracens for wing star with real ‘X-factor’
Gloucester Rugby look to have turned to London Irish's production line as a source of potential signings once again ahead of the 2024/25 season with the club reported to be leading the chase to sign winger Ben Loader.
After years of financial hardship, London Irish went under in June 2023, and the former Premiership club’s impressive squad were shattered around the globe. Loader, now 26, joined South African United Rugby Championship side the Stormers, who he scored six tries for in 18 appearances last season, while many of his former teammates and colleagues stayed closer to home.
The Cherry and Whites, led by former London Irish forwards coach George Skivington and with former Exiles attack coach James Lightfoot-Brown running the backs, initially picked up five players, adding scrum-half Caolan Englefield, backrow Ben Donnell, winger Michael Dykes, fly-half Rory Taylor and tighthead prop Afolabi Fasogban. Englefield and Fasogban have since gone on to establish themselves as first-team regulars.
In the last week, the Cherry and Whites have been linked with signing another former Exiles star in one-cap England international Will Joseph who is currently on the books at Harlequins. Now The Telegraph report they are close to landing Loader although Leicester Tigers and Saracens are also both interested in acquiring his services.
Loader has played for England in an uncapped game against the Barbarians but remains uncapped however he still harbours ambitions to make it on the international stage, although he is currently unavailable for selection while playing in South Africa. A return to the Premiership would clearly put him back into the shop window for England head coach Steve Borthwick.
Injury has kept him out of action so far this season at club level but Stormers head coach John Dobson is a big fan, praising him as a player with “real X-factor.” Discussing their recruitment of 6ft 2in, nearly 15 stone winger, Dobson said: “We knew all the focus would be on other guys like Arundell, whereas we thought the best guy out of the lot of them was Loader.”
Gloucester are currently well-stocked on the wing with Ollie Thorley, Christian Wade and Josh Hathaway as international calibre options, but injuries saw centre Max Llewellyn force to move across earlier this season.
