​The Cornish Pirates have confirmed that lock Ben Gulliver has joined Premiership side Leicester Tigers on a three month loan.

Gulliver, 30, will initially stay at the injury-hit Welford Road club until November 30 , but Pirates forwards coach Ian Davies acknowledged that there is an opportunity for Gulliver to make the move permanent.

He said: “Chris (Stirling) has spoken to Richard Cockerill at the Tigers and he has tolld him that Ben will certainly be involved in the match day squad.”

Davies continued: “We will never stand in the way of a player if a Premiership club comes calling and this is a win-win for Ben because if he goes like a million dollars and makes it that is brilliant. If not we get a player back with Premiership experience.”

Coventry-born Gulliver joined the Pirates two seasons ago from Plymouth Albion and has developed into one of the club`s senior professionals as well as an expert lineout practitioner.

He was linked with a move to Gloucester during the summer but opted to stay in Cornwall and sign a new deal with the Pirates.

Leicester Tigers will pay Gulliver`s wages whilst they loan him but Ian Davies explained that this is a major opportunity for the Pirates to forge close links with one of Europe`s leading club sides.

He said: “We have been trying to establish links with a Premiership side for some time but without success. Leicester offered us an Academy player in return for Ben Gulliver which we have declined but further down the line we may well go knocking on their door.”

Gulliver's absence will leave the Pirates with three capable locks in Mike Myerscough, Ian Nimmo and Laurie McGlone which Davies pointed out is better than the start of last season when they only had two fit second rows in an injury ravaged squad.

In other news the Pirates have confirmed that scrum-half Greg Goodfellow has been released from his contract in order to join a French Pro D2 side. The former Mounts Bay and Coventry player spent much of last season on loan at Redruth but began this season as third choice Number 9 behind Gavin Cattle and James Doherty.