Cortese: Joins Gloucester

Cortese is no stranger to the Premiership having spent a season at Northampton in 2006-7 where he made his Saints debut, ironically, against Argentina and played in a Heineken Cup semi-final against London Wasps.

The 25-year old, who was capped against Samoa at senior level five years ago, can also count Biarritz and Bayonne amongst his former clubs and moves to Kingsholm having been playing for the Pampas XV in the Vodacom Cup in South Africa.

The background work to Cortese's signing was carried out by newly appointed rugby operations manager John Brain in his previous scouting role with the club and coach Bryan Redpath feels that he is getting a player with a point to prove.

"Matias is joining Gloucester determined to make a real impact," said Redpath.

"He's a big man who, as is usually the case with Argentinian front rows forwards, loves to scrummage. But he also likes to get his hands on the ball and get in people's faces."

"At 25, he's at that stage of his career where he knows that he needs to be playing regularly if he is to fulfil his undoubted potential and maybe add to the cap he won a few years ago."

"I've spoken to him at length and he knows that he's got a real opportunity here at Gloucester and he's coming here to make the most of it."