Gloucester sign Dian Bleuler from Sharks to bolster front row

Gloucester Rugby have signed 26-year-old loosehead prop Dian Bleuler from United Rugby Championship side the Hollywoodbets Sharks with immediate effect, the club said, bringing reinforcements to Kingsholm as they contend with front-row injuries ahead of Friday night’s Premiership match against Bristol Bears.

Bleuler, a product of the Western Province youth system who represented their Currie Cup side, made his Stormers debut against the British and Irish Lions in 2021 before moving to the Sharks in 2022. He made 22 appearances for the Sharks over three seasons and spent part of the 2024-25 campaign on loan at Munster, where he played seven matches including four in the Champions Cup. He returned to the Sharks this summer and featured off the bench against Glasgow Warriors in the United Rugby Championship two weeks ago.

Gloucester have been hit hard by injuries in the front row. Loosehead Val Rapava-Ruskin is managing a recurring knee problem and Jamal Ford-Robinson underwent knee surgery in the summer, leaving the club short of cover in the No.1 jersey. The new signing is intended to provide immediate cover and longer-term competition at loosehead as Gloucester seek to stabilise...