Saturday's Premiership finalists Leicester are set to sign Anthony Allen, the Gloucester centre whose rapid rise saw him win two England's caps in the autumn of 2006 when he had barely turned 20.

Allen's departure from Kingsholm this summer will continue the break-up of Dean Ryan's squad and follows the departure of Ryan Lamb this week to London Irish, the club Leicester meet in tomorrow's final at Twickenham.

Olly Barkley, who is returning to Bath after only a season at Gloucester and Iain Balshaw, who moves to Biarritz this summer, are also leaving Kingsholm while Allen, who is still only 22, would swap places with the Fijian Seru Rabeni who moves from Leicester to Gloucester.

Allen will hope for a change of fortune at Welford Road. After England appearances against New Zealand and Argentina at Twickenham he was jettisoned from the squad when Brian Ashton took over as coach from Andy Robinson.

Leicester yesterday parted company with their Argentinian tight-head prop Santiago Bonorino. The 34-year-old is joining Northampton on a one-year contract where he will fill the gap of the retiring Scotland international Tom Smith.

Meanwhile, Seilala Mapusua, London Irish's Samoan centre who this week was voted by his fellow players as the PRA player of the season, remains a doubt for the final. Mapasua injured his ankle against Harlequins last weekend and spent time in an oxygen tent early this week. "I hope that's not six hours of my life wasted," he said. "But I'm keeping my fingers crossed for the weekend."