Munster’s Heineken Cup quarter-final opponents the Ospreys have signed Samoa captain Filipo Levi. The 29-year-old lock will link up with his new team in time for their Magners League game against Connacht on February 22nd.
Ospreys have recruited him from Japanese side Ricoh Black Rams, making their move as Ian Gough and Alun-Wyn Jones are both on Six Nations duty with Wales, while their fellow second-row forwards Ian Evans and Lyndon Bateman are injured.
Levi has played in 10 Tests for Samoa and also represented the Pacific Islands on five occasions, including their 39-13 defeat against England at Twickenham in November.
Before moving to Japan in May 2007, he spent five years with New Zealand Super 14 side Otago Highlanders.
Ospreys head coach Sean Holley said: “We have been looking at the possibility of bringing Filipo to the Liberty Stadium for quite some time, so it is great news that we have been able to secure his signature.
“He increases the options available to us as we look to compete on all three fronts (Heineken Cup, Magners League and EDF Energy Cup) over the next few months.”
Gloucester, meanwhile, have signed former New Zealand star Carlos Spencer just four days after he left their Guinness Premiership rivals Northampton by mutual agreement.
He had failed to pin down a regular first team place this season. But Gloucester moved quickly to secure his services, landing the 33-year-old on a 17-month contract.
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