KINGSLEY Jones was due to be unveiled this morning as Worcester Rugby Club continued their summer shopping spree.
The former Gloucester skipper will today celebrate his 31st birthday by becoming Worcester's 13th capture of the close-season following their failure to win promotion to the Zurich Premiership.
Jones is the latest Gloucester player to arrive at Sixways following Chris Yates and Elton Moncrieff while former Kingsholm stalwart John Brain was appointed head coach last month.
The former Welsh international flanker's move ensures Worcester will have a formidable back row next season after the signings of Jim Jenner and Ben Clarke.
Brain will also be officially announced as Worcester coach today while Clarke will be paraded to the media at a press conference for the first time since his departure from Bath.
The 33-year-old, capped 40 times for England, will be a major contender for the club captaincy under Brain and is likely to take the number eight spot ahead of Jenner. However, Jones was made captain of the Cherry and Whites while Brain was assistant coach at Gloucester and could well take the armband.
Jones still had a year to run on his contract at Kingsholm but was allowed to speak to other clubs after coach Philippe Saint-Andre's brought in Wakefield's highly-rated open-side flanker Carl Houston.
The former Barbarians star enjoyed an outstanding career at Gloucester and was a firm favourite with the supporters. A year ago when he was appointed captain following the departure of All Black legend Ian Jones, he was labelled a "born winner" by Saint-Andre.
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