Gloucester duo sign new deals

Editor

Gloucester have been boosted by the news that Bill Meakes and Dan Murphy have signed extensions to their contracts to remain at Kingsholm.

The planning for next season has been underway for some time at the Premiership club. Seven members of the squad have already agreed new contracts while Tom Marshall and Jeremy Thrush will move from the Chiefs and Hurricanes respectively.

A year ago Meakes was a non-contracted player, training with the first team as the LV= Cup approached with several players absent due to injury or international call-ups.

He made his debut as a replacement in the LV= Cup at home to Wasps before making his first Aviva Premiership appearance against the same opponent at Twickenham.

He did enough to earn an Academy contract for the current season and has been a regular in the first team squad, scoring his first senior try in the LV= Cup at Exeter in November.

Meanwhile, loosehead prop Murphy is in his fourth season at Kingsholm having moved from London Irish in the summer of 2011.

The 28-year-old has also been a first team regular in his time at the club, making 78 competitive appearances to date. After a great start to the season, he picked up a knee injury in late September which sidelines him until he appeared as a replacement in Monday’s A League game at home to Sale Jets. Murphy has worked very hard to get back to fitness and will play a key role in the second half of Gloucester’s season.

“It’s very good news that Bill and Dan have both signed new contracts. We’ve been working hard in recent months to build the squad for next season, retaining existing members of the squad and bringing in new faces where required,” said director of rugby David Humphreys.

“They’re both well respected and hard working members of the squad who can always be relied upon to do a job when called upon.

“The depth of our squad will be all important next season with players away on World Cup duty and then a very intensive domestic and European campaign following that.

“With the pair of them agreeing new deals, we move another step forward in terms of our long term preparations and continue to build the depth of the squad required to compete at the top of English rugby.”