Gloucester Rugby have acted swiftly to address a pressing injury crisis by signing New Zealand hooker Manaaki Boyle-Tiatia on a short-term, three-month contract. Boyle-Tiatia joins the squad from Waikato, where he showcased his skills in the NPC, bringing vital experience to the Cherry and Whites during this challenging period.
The club’s hooker depth has been severely tested, with all three senior players sidelined: Jack Singleton is out indefinitely due to a heart condition, Seb Blake is recovering from a broken hand, and Jack Innard remains injured. Additionally, young prospect Freeman-Price is unavailable after sustaining an injury while representing England U19s.
In response, Gloucester called upon Will Crane from Hartpury, who made his Champions Cup debut at 31 during last weekend’s loss to Newcastle Falcons. Nineteen-year-old academy hooker George Knowles also featured on the bench, highlighting the acute shortage in the specialist position.
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Director of Rugby George Skivington expressed relief at securing Boyle-Tiatia’s signing, emphasizing the difficulty of finding immediate reinforcements during this stage of the season. “Manaaki is a talented hooker who will seamlessly integrate into our team and contribute right away," Skivington said. “With the NPC season in New Zealand concluded, we were fortunate to bring him in when other clubs are unwilling to release players.”
Boyle-Tiatia is set to join the squad next week and will be eligible for upcoming fixtures, including the crucial Champions Cup pool match against Toulon at Kingsholm and the Gallagher Premiership clash with Bath.