Gloucester Rugby has made a significant addition to their squad by signing New Zealand prop Nepo Laulala for the 2025-26 Premiership season. The 33-year-old, who has earned 53 caps for the All Blacks, is currently recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon sustained during his time with French side Toulouse.

Laulala, a veteran of the last two Rugby World Cups, played a crucial role in New Zealand's journey to the 2023 final, where they narrowly lost to South Africa. His experience and skill set are expected to bring a new level of strength to Gloucester's forward pack.

George Skivington, Gloucester's director of rugby, expressed his enthusiasm about the signing: "Nepo is a 50-odd cap All Black, and that pretty much speaks for itself in terms of the calibre of player we've signed. We moved quickly to get him here and start his rehab, which gave us a jump on the other sides. Most importantly, Nepo has been really grateful for how we've supported him with his injury."

Laulala has been undergoing rigorous rehabilitation at Kingsholm over the past three months and is showing promising progress. "He's looking really good, he's coming through all the tests that we've been putting him through, and we're confident he can have a big impact for us this season," Skivington added.

Laulala's journey to Gloucester has been marked by resilience. After making his Super Rugby debut with the Crusaders, he had stints with the Chiefs and the Blues before moving to Toulouse post the 2023 World Cup. Unfortunately, his time in the Top 14 was cut short due to his injury.

Expressing his gratitude, Laulala said, "I'm really grateful to George and everybody at Gloucester for welcoming me to Kingsholm after going through a pretty rough time in France. It was a scary time not knowing where my future lay, but I'm looking forward to repaying everybody here for the faith they've put in me."

Laulala is also excited about the prospect of playing in front of the passionate Cherry and White fans. "I've heard great things about Gloucester and the fans, and I can't wait to get out there and play in front of them," he added.

This signing is a testament to Gloucester's ambition as they prepare for the upcoming season, which will see the Premiership rebranded as the 'Prem'. With Laulala's experience and determination, Gloucester is poised to make a strong impact in the league.