Gloucester Rugby’s new forwards coach Brett Deacon expressed his satisfaction following the team’s 43-26 victory over Sale Sharks at Kingsholm, marking their first win of the 2026/27 Gallagher Premiership season. After months of preparation and tactical work, Deacon felt the forwards delivered a strong performance, particularly in the set-piece and maul phases.
The Cherry and Whites showcased a dominant forward pack, with hooker Seb Blake crossing the line twice from effective maul drives initiated from lineouts. Additionally, Will Trenholm, playing out of position at lock, powered over for a classic forwards try. The backs contributed significantly as well, with Ben Redshaw, Will Joseph, Ollie Thorley, and Max Knight each adding to the scoreline.
Reflecting on the match, Deacon said: “There were definite improvements compared to our previous encounter with Bristol. Up front, we saw increased intensity and better movement. Our set piece was much improved, and the scrum was phenomenal. We’re pleased to see the progress after five weeks of focused work.”
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This season has seen considerable changes at Kingsholm, including Deacon’s arrival from Leicester Tigers as forwards coach, aiming to instil a tougher edge in the pack. Joel Tomkins joined from rugby league’s Catalan Dragons as defence coach, bringing new defensive philosophies to the Gallagher Premiership outfit.
With many new players integrating into the squad, the coaching staff have emphasised building new principles around defence and forward play. These strategies were more evident against Sale than in the opening weekend’s narrow 43-40 defeat to Bristol Bears.
Deacon added: “We’ve introduced a new game plan and defensive approach. Now it’s time to showcase our improvements on the field. Scoring two maul tries against Sale was significant, especially given how much the Kingsholm crowd enjoys that style of play.”
Looking ahead to their Gallagher Premiership opener away at Exeter Chiefs on 26 September, Deacon acknowledges an area for improvement-the team’s resistance to opponents’ driving mauls. While Gloucester’s forwards excelled in attack, they conceded two maul tries against Sale, adding to the challenges faced in last week’s game against Bristol.
With two weeks before the Exeter clash, Deacon and his coaching team have time to address these defensive issues in preparation to test themselves against last season’s Premiership runners-up.