GLOUCESTER have appointed Dan Tobin from Leinster Rugby as its new Head of Strength and Conditioning ahead of the 2016-17 season.

Tobin will move to Kingsholm at the end of the current campaign to take over from Paddy Anson who will move on after four seasons with Gloucester to pursue other opportunities.

The 31-year old has spent all his career to date in Ireland. He has a BSc in Sport Science and Health and completed an MSc by research in speed and power in rugby union players at University College, Dublin.

He then spent two years working as a Strength and Conditioning coach with the Dublin senior football team and also represented Ireland as a 400m sprinter before taking up a position with Leinster in 2006.

He initially held the position of Academy Strength & Conditioning Coach for four years before being appointed in a similar role with the senior team. In 2012, he was promoted to the role of Head of Fitness.

However, he will now move to ply his trade in the Aviva Premiership, something he is very looking forward to as he told the club website this week.

"It's going to be a new challenge, something that will be good for me at this point of my career. Having spoken to David Humphreys, there are big plans in place for Gloucester, it's an exciting prospect and I'm looking forward to getting started.

Meanwhile, Director of Rugby, David Humphreys admitted that he's pleased to have recruited a quality replacement for the departing Paddy Anson.

"Dan has been played a key role in developing Leinster into one of the most dominant sides in Europe over the last few seasons. Young and ambitious, he will bring new ideas and direction to Gloucester's preseason training programme and build on all the good work that Paddy has done over the past four seasons.

"I'm delighted to have secured someone of Dan's calibre at short notice and am looking forward to welcoming him to Gloucester next month."