Gloucester Rugby’s 2025/26 Season: Fresh Leadership and New Challenges Ahead

New Era Begins at Kingsholm

Gloucester Rugby, which has called Kingsholm Stadium home since 1891, enters the 2025/26 season following an impressive fifth-place finish in the previous campaign, securing a spot in the European Rugby Champions Cup.

Leadership Transition and Squad Changes

A significant change comes with Welsh scrum-half Tomos Williams taking over the captaincy from Lewis Ludlow, who led the team for the past five years. The squad has undergone substantial transformation, with notable departures including Gareth Anscombe to Bayonne and Ruan Ackermann, who has joined the Stormers, while long-serving player Freddie Clarke has moved to Newcastle Red Bulls.

Technical Improvements and Challenges

The team’s scrum, which struggled last season with the lowest number of scrum penalties won in the league, has been bolstered by the arrival of All Black Nepo Laulala. The development of Afolabi Fasogbon, who is showing promise as a future England regular, alongside Russian Kirill Gotovtsev, suggests improved strength in this department.

Recent Achievements and Future Prospects

The club made history by becoming the first to win all three iterations of the English domestic cup competition with their Premiership Rugby Cup victory in 2024. Their European pedigree includes two EPCR Challenge Cup victories in 2005-06 and 2014-15. However, despite making significant progress last year, particularly in attack, there are concerns that the current squad may be weaker than 12 months ago, and the team will need to maximize its potential to maintain its competitive position.

Looking Ahead

Under the leadership of George Skivington, who was promoted to Director of Rugby in Autumn 2023, the team faces an exciting but challenging season ahead. Their return to the European Rugby Champions Cup for the first time since 2022-23 marks a significant opportunity for the historic club to prove itself against Europe’s elite.