Joe Joyce is set to embark on his debut season at Gloucester Rugby, fully aware of the stiff competition awaiting him for a second row position. Having recently joined the Cherry and Whites from Connacht Rugby, the 32-year-old uncapped lock is confident in his ability to rise through the ranks despite the challenge.
Gloucester’s second row department is notably strong, especially following the departure of Argentine international Matias Alemanno this summer. The club has bolstered its ranks by signing South African World Cup winner Jean Kleyn from Munster and boasts promising talents such as England international Arthur Clark and Wales international Freddie Thomas.
Far from feeling intimidated by this depth, Joyce welcomes the rivalry. He commented, “I’ve always had competition, but on paper this is probably up there. I’ve played against JK at Munster; he’s a World Cup winner and a formidable player. Then there’s Arthur, the vice-captain, doing great, and Freddie Thomas, who recently faced the Springboks in the summer. I also like Danny Eite; every time I watched him last year he looked strong, and he’s coming through despite some injury setbacks.”
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Joyce sees parallels between Gloucester’s current environment and his former experience at Bristol Bears, where he competed alongside players like Chris Vui, Dave Attwood, and Ed Holmes, creating a strong second row group.
“Staying fit is half the battle,” Joyce said. “If you stay fit, train hard, and seize your opportunities, that’s what I’ve always done to maintain my place on the field.”
Despite the typically demanding nature of pre-season, Joyce has taken on a significant workload in the second row, particularly as several rival locks have been sidelined or managed carefully. With new forwards coach Brett Deacon now on board, Joyce believes this intense pre-season involvement will give him an advantage as the new campaign approaches.
He explained, “I’ve been fortunate that quite a few locks aren’t training at the moment, so I’ve been able to do all the reps. We might not be able to swap out once, which made it really tough, and while others were rotating, I had to stay on the pitch continuously. It’s been challenging but should give me a good head start. If I’m consistently on the pitch during pre-season and perform well in the upcoming Premiership Rugby Cup opener against the Bears, it should put me in a strong position.”
As Gloucester Rugby prepares for the season ahead, Joe Joyce’s readiness and resilience position him as a key contender among a talented cohort vying for second row honours.