Gloucester have confirmed that Franco Marais will return to Kingsholm until the end of the season,
The 27-year-old hooker has previously made 35 appearances for the Cherry & Whites and he will now look to add to that tally before heading to the Red Hurricanes in the Japanese Top League at the conclusion of the 2019-20 Gallagher Premiership campaign.
Franco will re-join the squad for training today, as preparations continue for the eagerly anticipated restart.
JOIN THE RUCK:
Sir Ian McGeechan picks seven Englishmen in his Lions 2021 XV
15: Stuart Hogg (Scotland)
14: Anthony Watson (England)
"I'd definitely have Watson. He's great under the high ball, has unbelievable feet and would be outstanding on hard South African grounds."
13: Jonathan Davies (Wales)
12: Manu Tuilagi (England)
"At 12, I have to go with Manu. There's such power there. And you'll need that."
11: Liam Williams (Wales)
10: Owen Farrell (England)
9: Gareth Davies (Wales)
1: Rory Sutherland (Scotland)
"On form, I have to go with Sutherland. He's been absolutely brilliant. He's not just a good technical rugby player, he can play, he can run, he makes an impact. His story is an incredible one. I'd love to see him kick on."
2: Jamie George (England)
" Fantastic consistency, tough, good set-piece performer, just a very solid character. He will take some shifting."
3: Tadhg Furlong (Ireland)
"He's not had a brilliant season but he's such a good player and in these circumstances you would get the best out of him. He'd rise to the challenge. He's done it before."
4: Maro Itoje (England)
""Itoje is definitely one of them and I'd bracket him as a possible captain. He's a hell of a competitor. When you watch him, he's into everything. He reads things so well, he's niggling, he leads by example. He's a really intelligent lad and a really intelligent rugby player."
5: James Ryan (Ireland)
6: Jamie Ritchie (Scotland)
" He's tough, mobile, into everything. He's a carrier, a leader, he's improving game on game and I think he could be outstanding in a Lions jersey."
7: Tom Curry (England)
"A very clever player, a relentless guy with a huge engine. He'd come into his own in a Lions environment," he says.
