Gloucester Rugby head coach George Skivington is embracing a rare problem this season: a wealth of selection options, particularly in the backline, ahead of Saturday’s Gallagher Premiership Round 11 match at Twickenham Stoop against Harlequins.
After a season marred by injuries, Skivington finally faces the challenge of choosing from a fit squad. Wales international centre Max Llewellyn has fully recovered from knee surgery and is back in training. Additionally, centre Seb Atkinson and scrum-half Tomos Williams have returned safely from Six Nations duty with England and Wales.
Skivington commented, “Max is fit now, and we’re seeing a much healthier backline. We haven’t had many fit options before, so it’s refreshing to pick from more players. Besides Ben Loader, we’re in a good position.”
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Ben Loader, who joined Gloucester from The Stormers this summer, has been sidelined with recurring hamstring injuries and is unlikely to return until April’s second block of Premiership fixtures. “He’s close but not quite there for the next couple of games,” said Skivington. “Josh Hathaway also has an issue, but aside from those two, our squad is shaping up well.”
A key decision lies in selecting where to play versatile winger Will Joseph—either at centre or on the wing—as Llewellyn and Atkinson return to full fitness. The forward pack is also regaining health after previous challenges.
During the Six Nations, four Gloucester players were on international duty: lock Arthur Clark with England (though he didn’t appear in matchday squads), Freddie Thomas with Wales, alongside Atkinson and Williams. Fortunately, Gloucester’s absence from European competition means these internationals do not require mandatory rest periods, allowing Skivington to maintain a strong lineup.
“Our Six Nations players came back in good shape,” Skivington noted. “Seb had strong performances for England, narrowly missing out against France, and Tommy returned from Wales in good spirits. Freddie’s game time was limited, but his enthusiasm remains high. There’s a positive energy among the returning players, and with rest opportunities ahead, we’re optimistic.”
Off the field, Skivington has stepped back from his director of rugby role to concentrate solely on coaching. The club anticipates more significant changes in April when Rob Burgess arrives from Bath as general manager of rugby. Meanwhile, former Saints boss Chris Boyd has joined as technical director and is already involved in shaping the squad’s strategy.
Skivington shared a recent discussion with Boyd: “He asked who my ideal backline would be if we played a final tomorrow and had everyone fit. It looks very strong, though we’ve yet to field that lineup this season. Hopefully, we’ll be close to that for the final eight games.”