Boer captained Gloucester recently against Australia at Kingsholm

Veteran flanker Jake Boer has revealed his second spell at Gloucester could be for longer than he originally planned.

The 34-year-old left in 2007, going home to South Africa, but returned in October to help the Cherry & Whites through a back row crisis.

"I'm happy with the way it's gone. I'm loving it, it's great to be back," Boer told BBC Radio Gloucestershire.

"It comes down to the management and the board whether I stay or not, but if I've got the choice I'd love to stay."

He added: "I think I've done all right. It's a case now really of whether I'm going to stay or whether I'm going to go.

"I'm very competitive - I wouldn't have involved myself if I wasn't going to come here and compete."

Boer's short-term contract runs until the end of December when Gloucester's injury problems are easing with Peter Buxton back playing and Luke Narraway nearing a return.

However, Andy Hazell is out until February with a torn hamstring, while international call-ups for Alasdair Strokosch, Akapusi Qera and Apo Satala mean Gloucester's back row resources are being stretched.

Off the field, I'm having a bit of input in terms of helping young guys, giving my advice Jake Boer

"We all know that injuries in the back row are certainly not something that doesn't happen," he said.

"We're quite injury-prone because we've got to do quite a bit of work most games.

"Off the field, I'm having a bit of input in terms of helping young guys, giving my advice. I think that I can add a bit of value from that point of view too."

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