South African international Jaco Kriel, who captained the Lions to successive Super Rugby finals, will be reunited with former coach Johan Ackermann after signing for English Premiership side Gloucester on Monday.
The 28-year-old flanker – capped 11 times since making his debut against Ireland in 2016 – has not played since injuring his shoulder against Australia last September.
Kriel will be unavailable for several months after undergoing a second operation on the shoulder in March.
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Despite this Gloucester’s director of rugby David Humphreys said he had been given assurances Kriel would be fit.
“Jaco’s record in his career so far speaks for itself, and he is a player that Johan rates very highly,” Humphrey