He was originally due at Kingsholm in mid-season, but the last All Blacks tri-nations game is against Australia on September 13, after which there are no more games other than the Euro tour.
Somerville says he has to discuss the matter with the NZ coaches, but an early arrival has not been ruled out.
The season starts, of course, at home to Leicester Tigers on Sunday (KO 4pm), and the build-up to the big kick-off has been blurred a little by talk of businesses and individuals possibly buying into the club.
It's alleged that Glaws have apporached some people with a view to them taking a stake in the club, and former Kingsholm legend Mike Burton has already ruled himself out.
But Cheltenham-based Richard St Clair-Quentin, who represents a Middle East-based business exile, says he is due to have a meeting with the club over a possible deal in the next few days.
Meanwhile, prop Nick Wood (right) says playing the Tigers in the first game makes it more than just a fixture. He told the Citizen: "Everyone's motivated for the start of the season anyway, but there's a big grudge factor.
"A lot of the boys were very angry at the way it finished at the end of last season and we need to get our own back and set the season off on the right note.
"It as a disappointing end to last season, losing to Leicester in that semi-final. But who could ask for a better start to the season than playing them in the first game?
"A real chance to get our own back - it should be fresh in all our minds that the last game we playd at a competitive level was againt Leicester, and we lost."
It looks like being a spectacular start to the season.

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