Aviva Premiership
Gloucester complete Cortese signing
ESPNscrum Staff
May 24, 2011
Matias Cortese, seen here during his time with Northampton, has signed for Gloucester © Getty Images
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Gloucester have bolstered their front-row options for next season with the signing of hooker Matias Cortese.

The 25-year-old, capped once by Argentina, will make the switch to Kingsholm after a spell in the Vodacom Cup with Pampas, having previously represented Bayonne, Biarritz and Northampton.

Gloucester confirmed the departure of veteran French hooker Olivier Azam last week, with the background work on Cortese completed by operations manager John Brain during his time with the club's scouting team.

"Matias is joining Gloucester determined to make a real impact," head coach Bryan Redpath said. "He's a big man who, as is usually the case with Argentinian front rows forwards, loves to scrummage. But he also likes to get his hands on the ball and get in people's faces.

"At 25, he's at that stage of his career where he knows that he needs to be playing regularly if he is to fulfil his undoubted potential and maybe add to the cap he won a few years ago."

Meanwhile, Northampton have released prop Regardt Dreyer and centre Matt Cornwell. The duo join Bruce Reihana (Bordeaux Begles), Mark Easter (Sale Sharks), Joe Ansbro (London Irish), Shane Geraghty (Brive) and Dan Sanderson (Moseley) in leaving Franklin's Gardens.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

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