Gloucester Rugby will begin their new Gallagher Premiership campaign this Saturday with an away fixture against Exeter Chiefs. The Cherry and Whites have seen improvements in their second row options following a period of limited availability during the Premiership Rugby Cup.
Head coach George Skivington previously had to field back-row players Will Trenholm and Jack Mann out of position in the second row against Sale Sharks two weeks ago, as their internationals were unavailable due to mandatory rest periods.
However, both England international Arthur Clark and Wales international Freddie Thomas have now regained fitness and are expected to be in contention for selection at Sandy Park this weekend. In another positive development, new summer signing Jean Kleyn, the Springbok World Cup-winning lock who joined Gloucester from Munster, has also recovered from injury and is available for the start of the league season.
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Speaking about the squad’s fitness and selection choices, Skivington said: “We are pretty healthy, although we have a few knocks as is common in rugby. Our second row options were limited during the Premiership Cup as Freddie and Arthur were on international duty, and Jean Kleyn was still recovering. It wasn’t the right time to play him yet.”
“The depletion in the Premiership Cup was likely due to these positive reasons linked to international involvement, but the players we deployed did a commendable job, even when playing out of position.”
“Selection has been challenging this week. It’s an enjoyable process with a strong coaching team debating various positions. On Monday, there were many difficult conversations with players, as it’s been a long time since I’ve had so many talented players missing out. While tough, it’s a good position for me to be in.”
The arrival of Phil Cokanasiga from Ospreys, who impressed during his debut against Bristol in the Cup, has increased competition in midfield. England international Seb Atkinson is back after securing an Enhanced Player contract, Will Joseph is fit, and the Knight brothers, Max and Will, continue to impress. Cokanasiga has returned to selection consideration after recovering from a head injury sustained on his debut.
Skivington confirmed that Welsh international Max Llewellyn is still recovering from a hamstring injury and is expected to be out for several more weeks.
Looking ahead to the opening weekend, Gloucester face the task of integrating several key signings-Dewi Lake, Jac Morgan, former England scrum-half Dan Robson, Jean Kleyn, and Phil Cokanasiga-who have yet to play together ahead of what promises to be a significant first game of the 2026/27 season.
Having suffered a raft of injuries last season, Skivington and his coaching team, led by Chris Boyd who has recently returned to the country, have decided to forgo optional pre-season matches to reduce injury risks.
Nevertheless, this cautious approach could see Gloucester arrive at Sandy Park somewhat unsettled compared to a more established Exeter Chiefs side. Only time will reveal how the team adapts.