New Zealand scrum half Jimmy Cowan has been added to the Gloucester Rugby squad for their Amlin Challenge Cup campaign that kicks off at Mont-de-Marsan on Thursday night.
The All Blacks star made four appearances in his side's march to the 2011 World Cup title and joined the west country club last month. He is one of seven 'Additional Players' added to squads ahead of the opening round of the 2012/13 tournament.
Also included among additions is former Scotland lock Scott Murray, who has joined Mont-de-Marsan this season and could find himself playing against one of his successors in the Scottish boiler-house, Jim Hamilton. Murray made his European debut for Saracens 13 years ago and is now on his fifth club in the two tournaments.
Each club may select two 'Additional Players' during the course of the pool stages, one of whom must be a front row forward. The nominated additional player will replace a registered member of the club's squad and no club will exceed 38 players at any time during the pool stages.
The de-registered player may return to the squad at a later date during the pool stages and replace the additional player. Clubs must ensure that the additional player has not been nominated in a match squad with another club for the Heineken Cup or Amlin Challenge Cup tournaments during the current season.
The additional player will be eligible to play in the next round of pool matches if his nomination is received by ERC by noon on the Tuesday before the match. The player must have at least a three-month contract with the club.
AMLIN CHALLENGE CUP ROUND 1 ADDITIONAL PLAYERS
AGEN
Remi VAQUIN
DOB: 27/07/1983
Pos: Back row / lock
Ht: 1.89m/6' 2"
Wt: 99Kg/15st 8lbs
De-registered - Steve Malonga
BORDEAUX-BEGLES
Baptiste SERIN
DOB: 20/06/1994
Pos: Scrum half
Ht: 1.8m/5' 11"
Wt: 76Kg/11st 13lbs
De-registered - Emmanuel Saubusse
GLOUCESTER RUGBY
Jimmy COWAN
DOB: 06/03/1982
Pos: Scrum half
Ht: 1.85m/6' 1"
Wt: 92Kg/14st 6lbs
Honours: New Zealand
De-registered - Drew Locke
LONDON IRISH
Guy ARMITAGE
DOB: 29/11/1991
Pos: Centre
Ht: 1.9m/6' 3"
Wt: 107Kg/16st 11lbs
De-registered - Jo Ansbro
STADE FRANCAIS PARIS
Jeremy BECASSEAU
DOB: 18/07/1991
Pos: Prop
Ht: 1.80m / 5'11"
Wt: 110Kg/17st 4lbs
De-registered - Benjamin Chabert
LONDON WELSH
Ashley SMITH
DOB: 18/06/1991
Pos: Wing
Ht: 1.82m/6' 0"
Wt: 91Kg/14st 4lbs
De-registered - Sonny Parker
MONT DE MARSAN
Scott MURRAY
DOB: 15/01/1976
Pos: Lock
Ht: 2.02m/6' 8"
Wt: 114Kg/17st 13lbs
Honours: Scotland
De-registered - Antoine Vignau-Tuquet
