Azam and Dickinson confirmation expected
GLOUCESTER are expected to confirm Olivier Azam's contract extension early next week.
The Citizen reported back in March that the Frenchman had decided to accept a contract offer from the Kingsholm club and turn down a lucrative move to Toulon.
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Olivier Azam's new deal at Gloucester is set to be confirmed next week
But the club are still to confirm the signing having been busy with the changes made as a result of chairman Tom Walkinshaw's review since May.
Scottish prop Alasdair Dickinson is also thought to have signed after playing more rugby both for Gloucester and his country last season.
Meanwhile, the dates of the Guinness Premiership fixtures for next season have been confirmed.
Gloucester's huge derby opener against Bath is set for Saturday, September 5.
The confirmed dates are:
SEPTEMBER 5: Bath H, 13: London Irish A, 19: Northampton H, 27: Saracens A.
OCTOBER 4: Leeds A, 24: Wasps H, 30: Sale A.
NOVEMBER 21: Leicester H, 28: Harlequins A.
DECEMBER 5: Newcastle H, 27: Bath A.
JANUARY 2: Worcester H, 10: Newcastle A.
FEBRUARY 13: Harlequins H, 20: Leicester A, 27: Sale H.
MARCH 7: Wasps A, 27: Leeds H.
APRIL 3: Saracens H, 17: Northampton A, 24: London Irish H.
MAY 8: Worcester Warriors A.
● Gloucester have confirmed that team manager Alex Hennessy has parted company with the club.
● Hartpury College's Matt Evans has been selected on the wing for Canada's crucial World Cup qualifier against the USA in Charleston, South Carolina today.
Comments
by PAW, Stroud
Sunday, July 05 2009, 1:28PM
“Well having witnessed and heard the outcry regarding eye gouging in South Africa we are now to reward Azam with a contract extension. When he was accused of eye gouging the club said they would await the outcome and then react. I thought perhaps an extended ban or maybe removing the player from the club. But no Gloucester Rugby seem to share the South African point of view that it's just part of the game. I assume he too hasn't apologised for what is an outrageous and unacceptable part of the game. The sooner clubs stand up and say that contact around the eye area is unacceptable and actually do something about it, the sooner we may eradicate it from the game. On a more positive note Good Luck to Bryan Redpath and his coaching team for the season ahead, we will all be behind you as we follow the Cherry & Whites in what we hope to be an exciting and rewarding season.”