Gloucester Rugby coach George Skivington admits his squad is under severe strain as they travel to Edinburgh Rugby for their third pool game in the 2025/26 Investec Champions Cup. A wave of injuries and suspensions, especially among the backs, has left the Premiership side with limited options.
Pool 2 remains highly competitive, with all six teams having secured one win each. Bath leads the table by just a single point over bottom-placed Edinburgh, while Gloucester sit fifth following a strong 33-14 win against Castres Olympique in the opening round. However, squad availability challenges threaten Gloucester’s momentum as they face Edinburgh.
Skivington revealed, “This week I have just enough backs to fill the 23-man matchday squad. There won’t be much rotation or selection flexibility. The players know who’s playing, and that’s it. We hoped for more continuity through the season, but that’s not the case right now.”
READ MORE: Tewkesbury River Tragedy: Young Man Who Died Before Christmas Named
READ MORE: Our Yorkshire Farm Fans Celebrate Return of Amanda and Clive in New Series of Our Farm Next Door
The recent 25-19 loss at Newcastle Falcons highlighted the team’s injury woes when club captain and key scrum-half Tomos Williams had to withdraw minutes before kickoff due to a leg injury. His absence propelled Mikey Austin into his first Premiership start, with young Rhys Price named on the bench. With Caolan Englefield still sidelined by a shoulder injury, Gloucester will rely on these less experienced players to step up against Edinburgh’s strong squad, featuring former Gloucester scrum-half Ben Vellecott.
Skivington provided an update on Williams, “He took a bit of a knock on the leg making a tackle. We’re managing him carefully, hoping it’s nothing serious. He’s tough and pushed hard to be ready against Newcastle but just wasn’t fit.”
Gloucester’s wing options are further depleted. England international Ollie Thorley received a red card against Newcastle and now faces a three-match suspension (potentially reduced to two with ‘tackle school’ attendance), ruling him out of the European double-header. Meanwhile, Ben Loader remains sidelined with a recurring hamstring injury. In contrast, Edinburgh will likely field a potent backline, including Scotland wingers Darcy Graham and Duhan van der Merwe, who recently returned from injury.
Skivington candidly acknowledged the tough situation: “There’s no sugarcoating it – we’re backs against the wall with numbers and experience. Many players are new to this level and weren’t expected to play so soon, but we’ll embrace the challenge. It’s going to be David versus Goliath over the next weeks, and we’ll give it our all.”
The shortage of experienced outside centres adds to Gloucester’s challenges. Wales international Max Llewellyn and England’s Will Joseph are both unavailable, thrusting 18-year-old Will Knight into action. Despite limited senior experience, Knight has performed admirably, earning valuable lessons against top-level opponents.
Skivington commented, “Will Knight has only played 40 minutes of BUCs rugby since leaving school but has now faced Premiership competition four times. The experience is invaluable and will stand him in good stead.”
The forward pack also faces difficulties, with four hookers unavailable for European matches. Additionally, lock Arthur Clark, fresh from training with England’s Six Nations squad, received a three-match suspension for a disciplinary incident during the Newcastle game. Clark’s absence is a significant blow with upcoming clashes in the Champions Cup and a critical Gallagher Premiership match against Bath.
Gloucester must navigate this period of adversity with resilience as they aim to maintain their Champions Cup hopes despite a depleted squad.