With the first match for Gloucester in the 2023/24 premiership due to kick off tomorrow at 2pm at Kingsholm. The teams have been announced and the build-up has begun.
Coming into the match with a good track record, Gloucester have set high expectations having beaten Harlequins 25-17 three weeks ago.
In their last match before the upcoming campaign, Harlequins comfortably beat Nottingham 45-21 in the cup.
Scottish international fly-half Adam Hastings unfortunately will not be able to play with Gloucester after he suffered a knee injury during a tough match up against Coventry Rugby which finished 32-31 to Gloucester.
Having continued a winning streak of five victories across their Premiership Rugby Cup pool fixtures over the last two months, Director of Rugby, George Skivington, has told that he is pleased with them for a number of reasons.
Gloucester prop forward, Fraser Balmain who suffered a knee injury and had to undergo surgery last year is due to make his return for the match, starting in the front row alongside Harry Elrington and George McGuigan.
The Cherry and Whites club captain, Lewis Ludlow, will make his 200th appearance for the team in the back row accompanying Ben Donnell and Zach Mercer making their Premiership debuts for Gloucester Rugby.
⬇️ Our opponents tomorrow at Kingsholm Stadium 👀#COYQ #GLOvHAR https://t.co/yIyRjSsgzN
— Harlequins 🃏 (@Harlequins) October 13, 2023
In terms of the layout of the Premiership, this will be the last season before the all-important regulation changes which will see a change in the way teams qualify to be promoted playing the team who qualified last.
The Premiership will undergo a re-launch, replacing the regulations which they brough in subsequently around the time covid hit.
Gloucester Rugby Line up:
15. Lloyd Evans*
14. Jake Morris*
13. Max Llewellyn
12. Seb Atkinson
11. Ollie Thorley*
10. George Barton*
9. Charlie Chapman*
1. Harry Elrington
2. George McGuigan
3. Fraser Balmain
4. Freddie Clarke*
5. Arthur Clark*
6. Ben Donnell
7. Lewis Ludlow* (C)
8. Zach Mercer
Replacements:
16. Seb Blake*
17. Val Rapava-Ruskin
18. Ciaran Knight*
19. Freddie Thomas*
20. Jack Clement*
21. Stephen Varney*
22. Louis Hillman-Cooper*
23. Jack Reeves*
Harlequins line up:
1. Fin Baxter
2. Sam Riley
3. Will Collier
4. Joe Launchbury
5. George Hammond
6. Jack Kenningham
7. Will Evans
8. Alex Dombrandt (Captain)
9. Will Porter
10. Will Edwards
11. Louis Lynagh
12. Luke Northmore
13. Will Joseph
14. Tyrone Green
15. Nick David
Replacements:
16. Nathan Jibulu
17. Santiago Garcia Botta
18. Lovejoy Chawatama
19. Irne Herbst
20. James Chisholm
21. Max Green
22. Jarrod Evans
23. Oscar Beard
