Matias Alemanno: Gloucester lock out for a ‘couple of months’

Gloucester lock Matias Alemanno has been ruled out for the next “couple of months” with a shoulder injury that has required surgery.

The Argentina international went off during the second half of Gloucester’s defeat by Exeter on 29 December after suffering a “labral tear” in his shoulder cartilage.

The 31-year-old had appeared in every one of Gloucester’s nine Premiership games this season – starting four – before the injury.

“He’s out for a couple of months. We’re coming up to a break in the Premiership which is in favour of that but he’s still a month after that to come back,” said director of rugby George Skivington.

Alemanno joined the club in 2020 and won his 96th cap for the Pumas during the Autumn Nation Series last November against Italy.

“Mati hit really good form, he was flying and we were seeing the best of Mati so from that point of view we’re all gutted, he’s obviously gutted,” Skivington said.

“He’s nearly a 100-Test international so he knows the score with how this goes, he’ll knuckle down and come back fit and strong when he’s available.”