Gloucester Rugby may have missed out on placing players in the England squad this summer, but director of rugby George Skivington believes the club is nurturing some of the most exciting young English talent in the Gallagher Premiership. The club’s commitment to youth is starting to pay dividends as fresh stars emerge to strengthen the team.
The Cherry and Whites secured their first league win of the season with a 26-15 victory over Harlequins in Round Six at Kingsholm. Notably, 23-year-old centre Seb Atkinson and 20-year-old Ben Redshaw delivered standout performances, signaling their growing importance in the squad.
Alongside Atkinson and Redshaw, other young talents like 23-year-old one-cap centre Will Joseph, 21-year-old Afolabi Fasogbon, and the currently sidelined 23-year-old Arthur Clark are all making strong cases for international recognition. This new generation is poised to become the backbone of Gloucester’s future success.
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Redshaw’s two tries, complemented by milestone scores from captain Lewis Ludlow (his 250th club appearance) and Ollie Thorley (150th appearance), were key to the team’s positive result. Their impact was further amplified by the return of several key players, including Ludlow, Joseph, Thorley, and Val Rapava-Ruskin, who rejoined the squad after injury layoffs.
Skivington attributed the victory partly to these returns: “It’s no coincidence. We have some of our best players back, and that makes a huge difference.” He also praised Atkinson’s performance, highlighting his leadership and communication skills on the field. “Seb is brilliant. He’s probably the best communicator in England when it comes to game management,” said Skivington. “He carried strongly today, making significant ground and proving why he was entrusted with the vice-captaincy.”
Although Atkinson missed out on the recent England Quilter Nations Series squad due to injury, Skivington remains confident about his international prospects. “If he had been fit, he would have been in the autumn squad and likely played in the last game,” he said. “Seb stays motivated despite setbacks and controls what he can. He’s tough and focused.”
With increased competition in the England setup following the autumn victories, Skivington believes Atkinson has what it takes to break into the team: “There are now twelve players competing, but he’s the kind of player who will find a way.”
Skivington also reflected positively on Redshaw’s return from a foot injury sustained on England duty. “We took a big step choosing youth last year, and some underestimated Will Joseph and Ben Redshaw. But we always believed that within a year or two, we’d have a dynamic backline—and now we do. Ben’s performance today showed his true potential, and he’s only just getting started.”
Gloucester’s strategy to build around young English talent is shaping up to create a bright future for the club both domestically and on the international stage.