All Black prop Greg Somerville is the latest southern hemisphere player to make the move to European rugby having signed a two-and-a-half-year contract with Gloucester,
The 30-year-old, who can play either loose-head or tight-head, will complete the move to Kingsholm from the Canterbury Crusaders in December. Somerville looks set to make his Heineken Cup debut in Round 3 or 4 and could face at least one old team mate in Xavier Rush from Cardiff Blues who Gloucester will meet in Pool 6.
The Kiwi prop became the most decorated prop in New Zealand history with 59 caps when he appeared for the All Blacks against England in the second Test in Christchurch in June.
Gloucester Head Coach Dean Ryan believes his experience and versatility will be a major addition to the Glaws' squad, "To have represented the All Blacks in more than 50 Test matches and be versatile to operate on either side of the scrum, means he is an outstanding acquisition for us".
Relishing the opportunity to experience European rugby Somerville said: "I have achieved virtually everything possible in New Zealand rugby and to have represented the All Blacks will always be something very special to me."
"But this opportunity has developed and the chance to experience a new culture for myself and my family, and contribute to a side that is already right at the top of the English Premiership was an exciting opportunity to take up."
Somerville made his debut for Canterbury in an NPC semi-final in 1998, was a Crusader the following season, and an All Black within two years of his first representative appearance.
He made his Test debut in 2000 against Tonga and the Hawke's Bay-raised prop became the fourth man to play a century of matches for the Crusaders when he featured in the 2006 Super 14.
Gloucester will face Biarritz Olympique, Calvisano and Cardiff Blues in Pool 6 of the Heineken Cup.
