Gloucester Rugby head coach George Skivington dedicated part of his rare summer break to conducting a specialized three-day coaching clinic in Fiji. The program aimed to enhance the skills of Fijian coaches in key set-piece areas such as mauls, lineouts, and scrummaging—Skivington’s areas of expertise.
As a former lock and assistant coach for Samoa during the 2015 Rugby World Cup, Skivington utilized his extensive knowledge to deliver a comprehensive training experience. He guided Fijian pathway coaches through a blend of classroom instruction, video analysis, whiteboard sessions, and hands-on field demonstrations. The clinic notably involved working with Fiji’s U20 squad to prepare them for the upcoming U20 World Championships in Georgia, starting this weekend.
Fiji Rugby praised the initiative, stating that the clinic’s insights are expected to create a lasting legacy across the national rugby pathway, from grassroots to elite levels. This effort also serves to strengthen the already valuable partnership between Fiji Rugby and Gloucester Rugby.
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Adding a personal connection, Fiji Rugby Chief Executive Officer Koli Sewabu is a former Gloucester player, having made history as the first Fijian to represent the club during the 2001/02 season. Though no Fijian players currently feature at Kingsholm, past players such as Akapusi Qera and Albert Tuisue have proudly worn the Gloucester jersey.
Meanwhile, back in England, Gloucester’s squad members not engaged in international duties will reconvene for pre-season training on July 13, following a five-week break.
Reflecting on the club’s progress, Skivington shared, “There has been a lot of planning already done. With new coaches coming in, I wanted to be as far ahead as possible. There are loads of exciting plans, and the internationals will gradually return over the summer.”
Looking ahead to the 2026/27 season, Gloucester has bolstered its coaching staff by appointing Brett Deacon as forwards coach from Leicester Tigers and Joel Tomkins, from rugby league’s Catalan Dragons, as defence coach.