Gloucester could face a mass exodus

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Monday, April 06, 2009
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This is Bristol

Gloucester Rugby could be facing a mass exodus from Kingsholm ahead of next season, after Carlos Spencer became the latest player to cast his future into doubt.

The Kiwi fly-half revealed he signed a contract taking him just to the end of this season at Gloucester, despite the club announcing he had committed to staying until the end of the 2009-10 campaign.

He is set to join Anthony Allen on the way out. Leicester is the centre's likely destination, with an announcement expected this week.

Uncertainty also surrounds the future of Olly Barkley, who is understood to be eyeing a move back to Bath after an unhappy season in cherry and white.

Ryan Lamb, who has played only a bit part since the turn of the year after falling out of favour with head coach Dean Ryan, is another considering offers from elsewhere in the Guinness Premiership and abroad.

Italian prop Carlos Nieto could also be on his way out, of the door with his contract up at the end of the season and the intimidating figure of Greg Somerville standing between him and first-team rugby at Gloucester.

The two Jacks – Adams and Forster – have already announced moves to Bristol and Sale respectively, as Ryan makes the changes he promised after another season of big-game defeats, the latest a 40-22 crushing at the hands of Northampton on Saturday.

All-Black Spencer revealed after the game that his contract at Gloucester was only five months long, despite the club suggesting he had signed for 18 months in February.

He said: "I've only signed for five months, that's all I've done, so I've got no plans at the moment. I've said to Gloucester I just want to finish up the five months and see where it takes me. I've got no plans, we'll just have to see what happens."

Spencer refused to rule out France as an option, tempting because of the amount of money available there, but admitted a move home to New Zealand was the likely option.

"I do miss home, I miss the lifestyle," he said. "My wife's missing home, she's nagging me every day that she wants to go home, so we'll see what happens. I've not made decisions. I'm happy cruising along."

Boss Ryan has already moved to bring players in to fill any gaps left, with Cardiff's Nicky Robinson and Wasps' Tom Voyce on their way, and Seru Rabeni thought to be coming from Leicester.

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