Gloucester Rugby supporters are optimistic that the arrival of Welsh internationals Jac Morgan and Dewi Lake will herald a return to prominence for one of England’s historic rugby clubs.
Both players, who are co-captains for Wales, have made the move across the border from the Ospreys. The Swansea-based club faces an uncertain future amid plans by the Wales Rugby Union to reduce the number of professional regions by 2028/2029.
Morgan, who joins Gloucester with 24 international caps and 50 appearances for the Ospreys, arrives at Kingsholm as the club prepares to compete again in the Champions Cup, having secured their place by finishing just one point ahead of Harlequins in the domestic league.
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These signings add to the Welsh contingent at Gloucester, which includes Max Llewellyn. They also follow the early Premiership exposure of Bristol’s Louis Rees-Zammit, another Welsh talent.
Morgan appreciates having Lake nearby to ease the transition to a new environment. He said: “I spent eight weeks with Dewi at the Rugby World Cup, I think that was enough! But no, he’s one of the best roommates I’ve had and a great friend. We live close to each other and it’s been really helpful having a familiar face around.”
He also noted the presence of other familiar players like Llewellyn and Freddie Thomas, which has made settling into the squad easier. “The club has made the move amazing for us,” he added.
Morgan emphasised his desire to develop as a player through regular game time and to experience the competitiveness of the Premiership, where margins between teams are often fine.
Since leaving the Scarlets and Ospreys after seven years, Morgan has been impressed by Gloucester’s facilities and the camaraderie within the squad. “They’re a good bunch of boys and there’s a strong coaching group. The move has been a big one, but I’m excited and have really enjoyed training so far,” he said.
While Gloucester’s recent history includes only one Premiership semi-final appearance in 15 years, the club has shown signs of progress. They finished fifth a couple of seasons ago, won the Premiership Rugby Cup in 2024, and reached the Champions Cup final at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium after falling into the Challenge Cup. However, last season they were one of the lower-scoring teams, averaging three tries per game, highlighting the growing attacking standards across the Premiership.
Morgan, who represented the British & Irish Lions last summer, missed the start of this year’s Six Nations due to injury but remains optimistic. He was drawn to Gloucester by the attacking style of head coach George Skivington. “Gloucester play a nice and attacking style, which I hope to contribute to and enjoy. That was a big factor in my decision to come here,” he explained.
He also shared his appreciation for the club’s passionate fan base. “I’ve already had people in Gloucester welcoming me. We had an open training session with many supporters, including lots of children, which was great to see. The Shed’s crowd is known to be loud and passionate, and I’m looking forward to playing in front of them.”
Gloucester’s early-season fixtures include the eagerly anticipated West Country derby against Bath under floodlights on Friday, 23 October, with the return match at The Rec scheduled for Saturday, 20 March. They will also face Bristol Bears at the Principality Stadium on Saturday, 17 April, following a home fixture against Bristol on New Year’s Day.
The Ed Slater Cup tie against Leicester Tigers returns to Kingsholm on Saturday, 27 March, after last season’s home win at Villa Park.
The Premiership campaign kicks off for Gloucester at Sandy Park against Exeter Chiefs on Saturday, 26 September, with the season concluding at Kingsholm in June. George Skivington continues in his role as head coach, reporting to technical director Chris Boyd.
Boyd, who was director of rugby at Northampton Saints from 2018 to 2022, has taken on his current position to allow Skivington to focus on coaching. With new players and coaching staff joining, Gloucester are signalling their intent to climb the Premiership table this season.