Gloucester Rugby are reportedly closing in on signing Samoan tighthead prop Marco Fepulea’i ahead of the 2026/27 Gallagher Premiership season. The Cherry and Whites have openly acknowledged their need to strengthen the tighthead position, with GM Rob Burgess leading recruitment efforts to support rising star Afo Fasogbon, who recently joined the senior England training squad.
This season, Gloucester have said farewell to two experienced international tightheads. Kirill Gotovtsev, the 38-year-old former Russian captain, retired following 87 appearances since 2021. Meanwhile, former All Black Nepo Laulala, aged 34, also departed after 10 appearances; his performances failed to match expectations and off-field issues reportedly influenced the club’s decision not to renew his contract.
Although Jamal Ford-Robinson and Ciaran Knight provide versatility by covering both tighthead and loosehead positions, their primary role is loosehead prop. Gloucester are therefore keen on securing a specialist tighthead, with Midi Olympique linking them to Fepulea’i.
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At 31, Fepulea’i is a seasoned journeyman. After starting the 2025/26 season with Bayonne in France’s Top 14, he moved to ProD2 side Mont-de-Marsan. His career began in New Zealand with Auckland in the NPC before he played in the US Major League Rugby for the American Raptors and LA Giltinis. Since 2022, he has been plying his trade in France with US Colomiers and now appears set to move to England.
In other transfer developments, Gloucester fly-half Ross Byrne is reported to be heading to Perpignan. Talks between Gloucester and the French club are underway to agree on a transfer fee to release Byrne from the final two years of his contract at Kingsholm. In anticipation of his departure, Gloucester are reportedly searching for a versatile backline player capable of covering both fly-half (10) and inside centre (12), to provide depth amid the potential increased England and Wales commitments of Seb Atkinson and Max Llewellyn next season.