Eight players leaving Gloucester but May one of four to agree fresh terms
It’s been a busy morning for Gloucester, with the club confirming a raft of contract extensions and departures. Perhaps most surprisingly, the Premiership side have announced that Jonny May has penned new terms with the club, despite only recently rejoining from Leicester Tigers.
Gloucester confirmed the signature of May in April, but the England international has now agreed fresh terms to his contract, just over two months since his move was first confirmed.
Gloucester have also announced that Australian international James Hanson has signed a new contract with the club, while Scottish lock Alex Craig has agreed to a new long-term deal.
Long-serving back-row forward Lewis Ludlow has also extended his contract.
However, that good news has been dampened by confirmation that eight players will leave Kingsholm at the end of the month.
The club have confirmed that three players will be leaving Gloucester for new clubs in Japan, while four more players are set to move on when their contracts expire at the end of the month.
Veteran full-back Tom Marshall, lock Franco Mostert and hooker Franco Marais are all set for moves to Japan.
Meanwhile, Owen Williams will leave the club after three years and 37 appearances for Gloucester.
Ruan Dreyer leaves after an injury-disrupted stay at Kingsholm, making just seven appearances since joining before the 2018-19 season.
Callum Braley will head to Benetton Rugby, as announced in February. Aaron Hinkley is joining Exeter Chiefs, a move that was first announced in March, while Simon Linsell will join Ealing Trailfinders.
Lance Bradley, Chief Executive Officer, said “While it’s always sad to see players depart the Club, we nevertheless wish them all the best for the future.
“We have, of course, been planning for these departures for some time, and will have a fully competitive squad as we look forward to restarting the 2019/20 season. We will be providing details shortly.”
Gloucester supporters will at least take heart from the growing number of players agreeing to new contracts at the club.
"There's nothing quite like playing at Kingsholm…" ?@J0nnyMay has penned an extended deal which will see his long-term future played out at 'Holm. ?
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— Gloucester Rugby ? (@gloucesterrugby) June 26, 2020
May, who scored 30 tries in 44 appearances for Leicester Tigers, is a product of the Gloucester Rugby Academy, and will be looking to add to his 62 tries for the Cherry and White, having already made 138 appearances between 2009 and 2017.
“I’ve already really enjoyed being back in the Gloucester Rugby environment, and it’s great to be able to commit my future here,” he siad.
“There’s nothing quite like playing at Kingsholm, and I can’t wait to run back out there, and hopefully enjoy it with supporters again soon.”
Bradley commented “There’s absolutely no doubt that Jonny is a world-class athlete, and that experience he has in elite-level environments will prove invaluable to us.
“Jonny will be a hugely important figure in our squad, both on and off the pitch, as we continue to develop the young wingers we have coming through.”
Ludlow initially made his breakthrough into the first team in 2013, and achieved his 100th cap in the home fixture against Wasps this season.
“Playing for Gloucester Rugby has always been a true honour for me, and there’s nowhere I’d rather play my rugby. I love this club and want to get it to where it deserves to be,” he said.
Bradley said “Lewis has shown his enthusiasm and commitment to this Club over many years. You only have to look at his performances to see just how important he is to us moving forward.
“Not only that, but as an academy graduate, he is a fantastic role-model to have in the squad. The journey he’s been on from the academy to the first team, highlights the importance of that pathway. He’s exactly the kind of player we want to build the Club around as we go forward.”
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We are delighted to announce that @LewisLudlow94 has agreed an extended deal with the Cherry & Whites. ?
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— Gloucester Rugby ? (@gloucesterrugby) June 26, 2020
Hooker Hanson has clocked up 32 appearances and scored six tries since arriving in 2017, on what was initially a short-term deal.
“I can’t wait to pull on the jersey again and run out in Cherry & White,” Hanson said.
“It’s been a great honour to represent this club and playing in front of the passionate Gloucester fans has been amazing.
Gloucester Rugby can confirm a number of departing players.
We'd like to place on record our thanks to them, and wish them the best of luck in the next step of their careers.
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— Gloucester Rugby ? (@gloucesterrugby) June 26, 2020
“We’re delighted that Chibba has decided to stay at the Club,” Bradley added.
“We were aware that he had been exploring options with other clubs, but when we sat down with him and outlined our vision for the future, and the part we saw him playing in it, it was clear that he wanted to stay.
“We’re all looking forward to seeing him playing at Kingsholm again soon.”
Craig’s contract extension also represents a boost, having made an impressive rise through the Gloucester ranks. Craig joined the senior squad at the beginning of the season and went on to earn a call-up to Scotland’s Six Nations squad earlier this year. So far he has made a total of 21 appearances for Gloucester.
Sam Cane has been in this position before. As the newly appointed #AllBlacks captain, surely he has the mana and ability to get the Chiefs up for this do-or-die clash with the Crusaders.@realmikepulman gives his take. #SuperRugbyAotearoa #CRUvCHIhttps://t.co/CYhknrHCDz
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) June 26, 2020
“I’ve really enjoyed my rugby at Gloucester so it was an easy decision to extend my contract,” Craig said.
“I’ve had plenty of opportunities this season to break through into the first team and show what I can do, so I’m really looking forward to continue fighting for my place and pulling on the Cherry & White jersey again.”
“Alex has shown just how much potential he has this season,” Bradley added.
“Being recognised for an international call-up is credit to the work he’s put in so far and it’s important for him now to kick on and keep developing.
“It’s tribute to Alex, and the Academy, that he’s been able to make his mark so quickly after signing a senior deal.”
Comments on RugbyPass
The shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to commentsOh dear, bones too suspect to continue?
2 Go to commentsBold headline considering the Canes and Blues are 1 and 2 and the Brumbies were soundly beaten by the Chiefs and Blues. Biggest surprise is Rebels 4 Crusaders 12 - no one saw that coming. If Aus are improving that’s great 👍
1 Go to commentsAnna, You are right, we need to have patience whilst the others catch up to England and France. Also it is the PWR that has been the game changer for England. the RFU put money into that initially at the expense of the Red Roses. I was sceptical at first but it has paid off in spades.
1 Go to commentsI think Matt Proctor became a 1 test AB in the same fixture. Cameron is quality and has been great this season, can’t believe’s he only 27. Realistically how would he not be selected for ABs squad this year. Only Dmac is ahead of him as a specialist 10. With Jordan out, it will come down to where and when Beauden Barrett slots back in, and where they want to play Ruben Love. Cameron seems an absolute lock in for the wider squad though. Added benefit of TJ-Cameron-Jordie combination at 9, 10, 11 too.
1 Go to commentsFarcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
1 Go to commentsHavili, our best 12 by a mile, will be in the squad, if he stays fit. JB is the most overrated AB in the last 50 years.
61 Go to commentsWe had during the week twilight footy, twilight cricket, tw golf plus there was the athletics club. Then the weekend was rugby 15s plus the net ball, really busy club scene back then but so much has changed and rugby has suffered. And it was all about changing lifestyles.
6 Go to commentsIn the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getting to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
6 Go to commentsROG’s contract is until 2027. The conversation about a successor to Galthie after RWC 2027 may be starting now. We can infer that Galthie’s reign stops then. He is throwing the Irish Coaching Job angle in because he is Irish. The next Irish coach MUST be Leo Cullen. As well as being the best coach available, coaching the vast majority of Irish Internationals week in week out, he has shown incredible skill at recruiting the best coaching staff for the job in hand. That was a failing in France. Cullen is a shrewd guy and if there is a need for foreign coaches underneath him he won’t hesitate. Rightly so. Ireland does need to start to bring Irish coaches through. Not just at the professional level but we need to train coaches to man new pathways for developing kids from schools/clubs up through the divisions.
8 Go to commentsNo Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
6 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
56 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
8 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
61 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
11 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to comments