GLOUCESTER have signed 35-year-old prop Pierre Capdevielle from Brive on a two-year contract.

The Frenchman, who is capped three times by France A, started his career at Perigueux before joining Montferrand, where he played alongside Oliver Azam.

He joined Brive in 2001 and made more than 70 appearances in four years.

And Capdevielle admitted he was looking forward to hooking up with Azam again in the front row after his compatriot did such a good job of selling the club to him.

"I know Olivier very well and spoke to him before I made a decision," he said.

"He told me what a fantastic club Gloucester is and how special it and its supporters are to him.

"I came over to watch a game at Kingsholm last season and I saw for myself that he was right and I immediately decided that I would like to be part of such a club.

"I am looking forward to the challenge of playing in England and playing my part in helping Gloucester challenge for honours."

The club also confirmed the captures of three more forwards, with Tynedale prop Rupert Harden, Cornish Pirates hooker Dan Dawidiuk and Bristol lock Dave Attwood arriving as well.

That takes the list of new recruits up to nine, after London Welsh prop Paul Doran-Jones, Cardiff fly-half Nicky Robinson, Wasps winger Tom Voyce, Leicester utility back Seru Rabeni and Bath centre Eliota Fuimanono-Sapolu.

The last of the 12 departures from Kingsholm since the end of last season has now been settled with new head coach Bryan Redpath announcing centre Anthony Allen has joined Leicester.

Allen joins Carlos Nieto, David Young, Jack Forster, Gareth Cooper, Ryan Lamb, Mark Foster, Dan Norton, Olly Barkley, Jack Adams, Iain Balshaw and Willie Walker out of the door.

Meanwhile, Moseley have added bright prospect Freddie Burns to the list of Gloucester players available to them next season in the newly-formed Championship.

As part of the dual registration deal between the two clubs, Ian Smith's men will also have the services of Johnny May, hat-trick scorer for Hartpury College in the EDF Intermediate Cup final and Charlie Simpson-Daniel, who represented England at Sevens this season.

Henry Trinder and Charlie Sharples are both provisionally part of the deal, and other names include England Under-20s star Dan Williams, scrum-half Jordi Pasqualin, plus fly-half Tristan Roberts and Yann Thomas..

The deal between Moseley and Gloucester gives them access to all second and third-year academy players not needed by Gloucester.

Burns starred for Cinderford in National Two last year.