Gloucester Rugby’s director of rugby, George Skivington, has signaled significant changes within the club’s coaching structure aimed at strengthening their Premiership campaign. The struggling Gallagher Premiership side is poised to bring in a new director of rugby, allowing Skivington to refocus on hands-on coaching.
Since joining Gloucester in July 2020 amid the Covid-19 pandemic, Skivington transitioned from his previous role as London Irish’s forward coach to head coach, later progressing to director of rugby in September 2023 following Alex Brown’s promotion to CEO. However, both Skivington and the Gloucester board now believe his talents are best utilized on the pitch rather than managing off-field administrative duties like contract negotiations.
In an exclusive interview with GloucestershireLive, Skivington shared insights into the ongoing restructuring at Kingsholm:
“I can’t say too much on it, but the key focus is enhancing the programme at Gloucester. We’ve reviewed various structures and the priority is to have the right people in the right roles, doing what they excel at. I’ve had constructive discussions with Brownie [Alex Brown], Martin [St Quinton], and the owners about this,” he revealed.
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He emphasized the importance of strengthening the club’s staff, saying, “Managing responsibilities off the field sometimes takes away from focusing on coaching excellence. There’s a lot happening behind the scenes at a rugby club, and if resources are limited, it’s challenging to perform at your best.”
These developments coincide with Gloucester’s intentions to build one of the Premiership’s leading rugby programmes. Interviews for the new director of rugby are reportedly underway, as the club looks to reverse its disappointing start—losing all five opening fixtures and currently sitting ninth in the Gallagher Premiership. This weekend, Gloucester will host eighth-place Harlequins at Kingsholm, aiming to close the gap in the league standings and spark a turnaround.