Boer back in Gloucester
October 15 2009
Former Gloucester captain and local hero Jake Boer is set to return to Kingsholm on a short-term contract this week.
Boer was registered for the Heineken Cup squad, with the injured Marco Bortolami deregistered as Gloucester coach Bryan Redpath counts his walking wounded.
"It's no secret that we've had a rough time of it in recent weeks because of injuries and are missing quite a few players," he said.
"We need someone to come in and do a job for us and we could think of no-one better than Jake. He's been playing in South Africa so is in great physical condition and is raring to go.
"He's well known to a lot of us at the club and loves Gloucester and he's potentially going to be a very valuable asset."
Boer, who joined Gloucester in 2000, captained Gloucester between 2002 and 2004 and led the side to victory in the Powergen Cup in 2003.
He was named the Zurich Premiership Player of the Season award in 2003, as well as the Overseas Player of the Year.
He signed off his spell at Kingsholm at the end of the 2006-7 season to return home to South Africa to play in Western Province and to pursue business interests having made more than 180 appearances for Gloucester.
At the time of his departure he said:
"It has been an honour and a privilege to have played at such a great club and I would like to think that people will remember me as someone who was able to contribute in anyway to a great club."
Capable of playing in all spots in the back row, he is a line-out option, ball carrier and is always at the top end of the tackle count.
He has been registered for European action and is therefore eligible for this weekend's Heineken Cup fixture against Biarritz.