Bristol Rugby are hoping their latest signing, scrum-half Jason Spice, will be fit for pre-season training despite breaking his arm in Cardiff's demolition of Gloucester in the EDF Energy Cup final on Saturday.

The New Zealander, who signed from the Blues earlier this month, suffered a broken arm which could take up to six weeks to heal.

It is a blow for Bristol's head coach Paul Hull as he continues his preparations in assembling a squad he hopes will take the club back to the Premiership at the first attempt.

But Hull is confident that Spice will be able to take a full part in pre-season training, which is scheduled to start in early June ahead of their National League One campaign.

Hull said: "Firstly it's a great shame for Jason because it means he will miss the rest of Cardiff's games, including a Heineken cup semi-final clash against Leicester in the Millennium Stadium, and a possible final appearance as well.

"It is really disappointing because as a player those are the sort of games in which you want to be involved.

"But as far as the impact for Bristol is concerned it will be negligible.

"These breaks happen and our medical staff have already been in contact with Cardiff and so long as it is a simple break with no complications it's a matter of between six and eight weeks in plaster waiting for the bone to heal.

"Jason will go back home to his family in New Zealand for a few weeks and spend some time there before returning here for pre-season training.

"There will be plenty of time for the arm to heal and we are looking forward to welcoming him to pre-season training and our preparations for the next season.

"I'm disappointed for him personally but not too worried for us a club – these things happen and I'm confident he will be fit for us next season."

Spice, who has scored three tries in his 21 outings for Cardiff this season, suffered the injury in only the second minute of the Twickenham showpiece in which Cardiff beat Gloucester 50-12..

The 34-year-old, who has agreed a two-year deal at the Mem, was one of three signings by Hull in the last couple of weeks to strengthen Bristol's squad.

The experienced Kiwi left Twickenham with his arm in a sling and was taken to hospital where x-rays confirmed the break.

A combative scrum-half, Spice played for Auckland Blues and Wellington Hurricanes in his homeland before joining Ospreys in 2004.

He left for Cardiff two years ago and has made 43 appearances for the Blues.

Hull has also snapped up centre Jack Adams from Gloucester, scrum-half Jason Spice and hooker Ross Johnson from Cardiff Blues and No 8 Dan Montagu from Nottingham.

Hull added: "We don't quite know what the format will be in the Championship next season, but we do know it will be a long season with a play-off competition at the end. I don't think coming in for pre-season too early is beneficial, because you need to be peaking in April and May, not on September 1.

"So we will start to build slowly and make sure that, come this time next year when the money is on performances and results, we will be there."