Gloucester sign up flanker Thomas

Thomas has nine international caps for Wales

Gloucester have boosted their back row resources with the signing of former Wales international Nathan Thomas on a short-term loan from Neath.

The 33-year-old has been registered to play and will be on the bench for Gloucester's Premiership fixture at home to Leicester Tigers on Friday.

Thomas joined Neath in the summer after being released by Scarlets last season.

He will provide cover for Andy Hazell, who has been ruled out until the new year with a hamstring injury.

The former Wales flanker won the Heineken Cup with Bath in 1998 and has also played for Leeds Tykes and Cardiff Blues.

He is currently combining coaching duties with Masters studies at Hartpury College and has been training with Gloucester since the start of November.

Earlier this week head coach Bryan Redpath denied any suggestion they were about to sign Thomas.

"I can 100% say there have been no discussions about replacing Andy," Redpath told BBC Gloucestershire.

"We've got Strokosch and Qera away on international duty and Narraway injured.

"We've just got to get on with it, even though just keeping them on the pitch can be tough at the moment."