Ospreys Rugby have today completed the loan signing of Edinburgh lock Perry Parker.
The 26-year old lock travelled south to Ospreylia on Wednesday evening, taking part in his first training session with his new team-mates on Thursday morning ahead of Friday night’s LV= Cup game against Sale Sharks at the Bridgend Ford Brewery Field.
Parker, Welsh qualified through his father, will provide much needed second row cover in the absence of Alun Wyn Jones and James King (international duty), Ian Evans (suspended) and Ryan Jones (injured).
Andy Lloyd, Rugby Operations Manager, commented:
“With four of our senior options in the second row unavailable for various reasons, we felt it was prudent to bring in additional cover for a busy period that has a huge bearing on the final placings in the PRO12 and the make-up of the play-offs.
“We have some very talented young locks coming through the development pathway, as we have seen during the LV= Cup period, but with the PRO12 providing a step-up in intensity it wouldn’t be realistic or fair on some of the boys, given where they are in terms of their personal development, to rely entirely on the up and coming players in the group.
“Perry Parker is a player who has caught the coaching team’s eye in the PRO12 and we are delighted to secure his services on loan for the remainder of the season. We look forward to seeing him making a big contribution to our push for the play-offs over the coming months.”
Standing 2.03m tall and weighing 118kg, Parker has played 15 times for Edinburgh since joining the Scottish side in the summer of 2012. A latecomer to the full-time game, he only turned pro in 2011 with Esher in the RFU Championship, where he impressed enough to earn a deal in Scotland. Previously, he had played for Haywards Heath, captaining Sussex in the County Championship Shield.