Gloucester Rugby’s struggles continued with a 30-21 defeat to Saracens on Saturday, extending their winless streak to three matches across all competitions. To exacerbate an already difficult start to the 2025/26 Gallagher Premiership season, the Cherry and Whites were hit by a wave of injuries that could hamper their hopes moving forward.
After collecting just eight points from the first eight rounds, Gloucester finds itself precariously positioned ninth in the ten-team table. While results have been disappointing, the persistent injury toll is severely testing the squad’s depth and resilience.
In the match against Saracens, four players—Ben Loader, Will Butler, Tomos Williams, and Harry Taylor—left the field under various injury concerns. Director of Rugby George Skivington expressed frustration at the ongoing setbacks, admitting he is at a loss to explain the recurring nature of the injuries.
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“It’s definitely a challenge,” Skivington said. “For whatever reason, we’ve lost two or three bodies every fixture, except for our home win against Harlequins. I wish I had the answer, but I don’t know what’s happening.”
Ben Loader’s injury was particularly worrying, as the winger hobbled off after just 16 minutes. Loader, who has battled hamstring issues since joining in the summer, faced another setback that doesn’t bode well for his fitness.
“Benny looked like he was holding his hamstring again,” Skivington revealed. “He’s been out for months already with that injury, so this isn’t a positive sign.”
Regarding the others, Skivington offered some reassurance: “Will Butler was a Head Injury Assessment (HIA), so he should be fine. Tomos Williams took a heavy knock early in the second half—just a dead leg—and Harry Taylor seemed to dislocate a finger but couldn’t relocate it.”
With no clear explanation for the repeated injury crises, Skivington is exploring all potential factors, including the possibility that playing surfaces might be contributing. However, he was skeptical about blaming pitches like Kingsholm.
“Last season, we stayed pretty healthy until late in the year,” he noted. “Several teams play on artificial surfaces, so it’s hard to pin the blame there. I just don’t know why it’s happening, but it’s relentless at the moment.”
The constant changes forced by injuries have disrupted team cohesion, exposing gaps in Gloucester’s game and contributing to inconsistent performances. Skivington acknowledged this reality, highlighting the challenge of integrating younger players into the squad.
“We’re fielding a lot of different combinations and giving young players experience,” he explained. “These guys will struggle at times, even with senior players doing their best. We’re learning as we go. For example, 18-year-old Will Knight is coming on early as a substitute and playing up to 60 minutes. It’s definitely ‘the deep end’ for them.”
As the calendar edges toward the end of 2025, Gloucester faces a crucial upcoming fixture against the league’s bottom club, Newcastle Red Bulls, on Friday night. With injuries mounting and frustrations growing, all eyes are on Skivington to steady the ship and guide Gloucester toward a more stable second half of the season.