Redpath signs last piece of Glaws jigsaw
Big Jim
By Cherry Picker
June 17 2010
Scotland’s giant second-row Jim Hamilton has signed for Gloucester, and coach Bryan Redpath says that completes his recruiting drive with the new season still more than two months off. It means that once the summer internationals are out of the way, preparations for next season can go ahead with the entire Kingsholm squad in place.
Hamilton, currently with Scotland in Argentina is 6ft 8in tall and needless to say will b looked upon to provide some line-out possession when his club season starts.
Imaginatively nicknamed "Big Jim", Hamilton and his 29th cap is due to come his way when he plays in the second test at the weekend.
It was thought he was going to follow the recent procession to France by signing for Stade Francais, but he says the chance to sign for Glaws was too good to miss.
He told the Citizen: "As a club Gloucester ticks all the right boxes for a player - a proud history, a passionate set of supporters and a ground like Kingsholm, which is a really special place to play rugby.
"I met up with Bryan [Redpath] and Carl [Hogg] and what they said about how they want to play the game and the values they want to see in their team really struck a chord."
Redpath added: "I'm exceptionally pleased to have signed Jim. He's a huge physical presence who will add world-class quality to our pack.
"Any player of Jim's calibre is going to attract a number of offers, but the fact that he's chosen to move to Kingsholm after coming down to look around and meet us is a great endorsement of the direction that Gloucester are heading in.
"It was important that we take our time and get our final piece of recruitment for next season right, and in Jim we've got somebody who will contribute to our environment in a significant way both on and off the field."
It certainly looks a good signing for Glaws, another reason for the more optimistic amongst us to hope for a better season.
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