There have been many young, academy players making their mark in the Gloucester Rugby team this season, but one who has come on leaps and bounds since last season is winger Ollie Thorley.
Thorley, who recently signed a new contract at the club, is happy to be playing more regularly this season.
His progress is shown by the number of fixtures that he has played in this season compared to last.
Last campaign he was limited to only four substitute appearances in the Premiership, two starts in the Anglo-Welsh Cup and the solitary start in the European Challenge Cup.
The 21 year-old has started eight games in the Premiership scoring three tries. He also made one appearance off the bench.
He has excelled in the European Challenge Cup starting two games and making one substitute appearance where he scored six tries, four coming in the same game and two from the bench.
He has also been part of two out of the three Anglo-Welsh fixtures including the victory last Friday against Ospreys in which he was named Man of the Match for his try and his attacking flair giving Gloucester the advantage.
After the match he said: “I’m always pleased to score. I love scoring, but I’m just glad we won.”
He admits that his try was probably one of the turning points which gave the team the confidence to go and win it.
“We definitely did feel after that {his try} there was an air of confidence among us and I think we continued to play attacking rugby after that as well,” he said.
“We didn’t step off the accelerator.”
On his own form, he admits to having areas to improve.
He said: “I think the offload is one of the big areas for me and also just to improve my footwork. I just want to keep improving on my footwork and my offloads.
“I feel confident with the ball in hand.”
Thorley also praised the size of the squad and is thriving amid the high level of competition for places.
He said: “Every chance I get to play, I relish it.
“I was obviously pleased to get the try today, but I know that everyone out there is enjoying themselves, that’s important.
“The fact that we do have a lot of players fit at the moment touch wood is good for us to create a competitive environment, but a healthy one.”
Before the match on Friday, Thorley signed a new contract with the team, but said that it was a hard decision to make due to his studies.
“It was a difficult decision as these things are,” he said. “There were a lot of factors, not just rugby based factors pulling in one direction and then the other. I am happy with the outcome.”
Gloucester’s next game is in the Anglo-Welsh cup away at Newcastle where the battle to earn qualification to the knock out stage will be decided.
