Narraway switch a fresh blow for Glaws

As the traffic between clubs gets busier in the build-up to next season, there's more bad news for Gloucester in Luke Narraway's decision to follow fellow forward Alasdair Strokosch to Perpignan.

The Glaws captain says it’s an opportunity he can’t ignore, though he admits he will miss the only club he has ever played for.

Coach Bryan Redpath told the BBC: "Luke has been a fine player for Gloucester and I know he has enjoyed the challenge of captaincy this season.

"He's been with us for a long time but it's the nature of the game that people move on to pastures new. I think he'll do well in France and he will go with our best wishes."

If Glaws succeed in their bid to sign local lad Ben Morgan from Scarlets, that will go a long way towards compensating for the departures of Narraway and Strokosch.

February was fairly frantic for Gloucester, but March looks like being a little less hectic with just two Premiership games, though both of them are vital in the team’s campaign to finish in the top four.

After starting February with a London Irish defeat that dumped them out of the LV=Cup, Glaws recorded three straight Premiership victories that have given them a chance of qualifying for next season’s Heineken Cup.

But that ambition will be severely tested on Sunday lunchtime when they go to Welford Road to take on a Leicester side with exactly the same top-four aim and the advantage of actually being fourth top with a four-point leads over Glaws.

But having beaten leaders Harlequins and third-top Northampton during this winning streak, Glaws should go to the Midlands with high hopes of getting a result before a two-week break and the home game with Exeter.

Redpath says: “We said after the London Irish defeat that we faced four huge games in the Premiership, and we have won three out of three so far. Sunday’s game away from home really is a massive one for us.

“We have won nothing and achieved nothing yet. I don't think that is something to get too excited about.”