- Hosea Gear in action for the Barbarians against England last year
LONDON – French rugby powerhouse Clermont has announced that it has signed All Black hopeful Hosea Gear just days after being handed defeat by Stade Francais in the Top 14 Final.
Currently plying his trade for the Waikato-based Chiefs in the Super Rugby Championship, the 31 year old has played for a number of provinces over the last 18 months including Clermont’s fierce rivals Toulouse as well as the Honda Heat in Japan before returning to New Zealand in the hope of gaining a berth in the All Blacks Rugby World Cup squad.
According to the Top 14 and European Champions Cup runners up, Hosea Gear concludes their signings with the French side making some handy acquisitions including French winger Scott Spedding, Flip van der Merwe and Camille Gerondeau.
This announcement is unlikely to do any favours for Gear’s All Black selection as New Zealand Rugby Union have always committed to players who have made intentions to stay in the country. And it may reflect that All Black selectors have already informed Gear that he’s not in their intentions moving forward.
Clermont had originally signed Highlanders’ wingers Waisake Naholo however released the 24 year old from his two-year contract last month after All Black selectors hinted at the Fijian-born winger’s chances of being selected for this year’s World Cup.