GLOUCESTER Rugby have announced the signing of former Worcester Warriors captain and hooker Matt Moulds on a short-term deal.

Moulds left Warriors in the summer after his contract came to an end and has now linked up with rivals Gloucester.

Moulds, 30, moved to England with Worcester back in 2019 having played for the Blues back home in New Zealand, where he was born.

The hooker made his debut as a replacement in the European Challenge Cup in Castres in November 2019 before his first Premiership appearance the following week - also off the bench - against Sale Sharks at Sixways.

The Kiwi captained Warriors for the first time in the Premiership match against Gloucester at Kingsholm in December 2019 and was appointed Team Captain in the summer of 2020.

But a combination of foot and hamstring injuries ruled Moulds out of the entire 2020/21 season and he left Sixways in the summer of 2021.

On the signing, Gloucester's COO, Alex Brown, said: "Matt is an experienced hooker and comes in to strengthen our front row on a short-term basis.

"A former captain at Worcester, he is a proven leader and having played rugby across the globe, he will be a valuable member of our squad and we look forward to welcoming him to Kingsholm."

Movement between the two rival clubs is nothing new, of course.

Owen Williams, Matt Garvey and Willi Heinz all signed for Worcester this summer, having all played for Gloucester in their careers.

Going back even further; the likes of Thinus Delport, Marcel Garvey and even Tony Windo have experienced life at both Sixways and Kingsholm. 

The stretch of motorway separating the two clubs appears to be one of the most travelled paths in Premiership history and even coaches have made the switch - Dean Ryan, Carl Hogg and more recently, Johnny Bell to name a few.

Moulds could be involved this weekend against his old side when the Cherry and Whites make the short trip up the M5 to face Warriors at Sixways, 3pm kick-off.