HOOKER Dan George can be the high-quality cover Gloucester boss Nigel Davies is looking for.
The London Welsh forward has signed a one-year contract for the Cherry and Whites and joined the rest of the Gloucester squad for the start of rigorous pre-season testing yesterday.
And director of rugby Davies believes the 26-year-old will offer high-quality cover for the number two shirt as Huia Edmonds recovers from the pioneering operation to fix his torn anterior cruciate ligament, suffered in the 32-9 Premiership defeat at Sale in April.
"Hooker is a key position and we need to make sure we have the quality and cover there," Davies said.
"I have come across George in the past, from the LLaneli Scarlets Academy. He is a fairly young hooker who played well for Welsh last year."
Darren Dawidiuk and Koree Britton have gone some way to fill the void Edmonds' substantial injury created, and Davies believes that George could be challenging them for a first team spot.
"Anybody we bring in is ready to challenge for places," he said.
"He has shown his potential. That's our job as coaches, from a physical, mental, technical and tactical point of view.
"We'll look to maximise all of our player's abilities and if we do that Dan will develop in the system and he will really push these guys."
While Edmonds is making considerable progress in his recovery, the pioneering operation, which grafted a synthetic ligament on to the knee made of the same plastic used in soft drinks bottle, will take time to recover from.
Davies said: "Huia is going well but it was a big operation he had on his knee.
"The emphasis now is on recovery and we are working with him on that."
The Welshman joins Kiwi fly-half Jonny Bentley in sealing a move to Kingsholm ahead of the new term, with Davies keen to see how the former Cornish Pirates man fares.
"Jonny was injured last year and played no rugby," Davies said.
"But what we've given him is an opportunity to step up and he's an exceptional talent. He's got to take his chance.
"If he can play to his potential, I think we'll have a very good signing."
Davies stated the latest signing should be the last and squad is now complete,
He said: "Unless the coaching staff need to bring someone in because of long term injury problems, that should be it.
"Now it's all about getting our heads down and getting on with it."
George signed for London Welsh in 2011, after a brief stint with the club in 2008 as they turned professional.
Before his return to the side in 2011, George played six months of semi-professional rugby for Carmarthen Quins, while studying Criminology at Swansea University.
George, who made 11 League appearances for the Exiles last season, has represented Wales at Under 16, Under-18, Under-19 and Under-21 level.
