Paul ready to prove worth to Gloucester

Henry Paul is likely to make his Gloucester debut at home to Caerphilly in the Parker Pen Shield match next Saturday knowing that he has a large task ahead of him to prove his worth to the team.

"Jason Robinson [a former colleague at Wigan] has already shown how much hard work has to be done and in that respect he is something of a mentor for me," Paul said yesterday at his belated unveiling.

Gloucester had intended parading their signing from rugby league at 1pm but he turned up two and a half hours late. The club explained that during his three days of celebration following the Bradford Bulls' Super League Grand Final win over Wigan Warriors last weekend he had loaned his car to a friend, who had failed to return it as arranged.

To complicate matters, as the 27-year-old New Zealander's mobile phone was also in his car, no one at Gloucester could get in touch.

It is unlikely that Paul will play alongside Christian Stoica. The Italian international, signed from Narbonne in the summer, is expected to leave Gloucester – Castres are favourites for his signature – after a falling-out at the club.

Martin Offiah, who quit rugby league last month after 14 years and more than 500 tries, is on a month's trial with Wasps and is likely to be on the bench for the Premiership's bottom club at Bristol on Sunday. Wasps have also signed the South African Under-23 centre, Stuart Abbott, on a two-year contract.

Also turning to rugby league are Orrell. The National League Two club expect to sign the Wigan and Great Britain international Gary Connolly, who had a spell at Harlequins, after the Ashes series later this autumn. The deal should take effect once the Wigan owner, Dave Whelan, is confirmed as having bought out Orrell next Thursday.