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Gloucester confirm six players leaving, including ex-Bath duo Banahan and Garvey
Gloucester have confirmed that a half dozen players – including ex-Bath duo Matt Banahan and Matt Garvey – are now leaving following the end of a 2020/21 Gallagher Premiership campaign that petered out with the pair of match cancellations that ended their hopes of finishing in the top eight to clinch a Heineken Champions Cup qualification place for next season.
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Those call-offs left Gloucester finishing in eleventh spot in George Skivington’s first full season in charge and the club has now farewell six players – Banahan, Tom Hudson, Garvey, Willi Heinz, Olli Atkinson and Jamie Gibson – ahead of the off-season.
Chief operating officer Alex Brown said: “We are truly grateful for every player that pulls on the famous jersey for their contribution to our club. Each player that is moving on this season has contributed to the journey we are on as a group, both on and off the field, and we wish them the very best for the future.”
The Gloucester statement listed the names of the departing players added: “Matt Banahan moved to Gloucester from local rivals Bath in 2018. With the ability to play across the backline, in recent seasons he has acted as a mentor to the younger members of the squad and has passed the baton to the likes of Louis Rees-Zammit and Ollie Thorley.
“Tom Hudson joined Gloucester ahead of the 2016/17 season from Leicester… signing a new contract in May 2018. Most recently, he has spent time on loan at Ampthill during the 2019/20 season and his contract at Kingsholm has now come to an end.
"When I was in the Six Nations camp later, he came to two sessions and was shaking everyone’s hand and I just avoided him"
– Extraordinary revelation from the Lions' youngest pick since 1959#LionsRugbyhttps://t.co/F8a0avei4p
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) June 15, 2021
“Matt Garvey’s commitment to the Gloucester squad has been unrivalled. He initially joined on a short-term deal following the suspension of the 2019/20 season. After a string of impressive performances, he signed a new Gloucester deal until the conclusion of the 2020/21 season. Matt has been a true professional.
“Willi Heinz has been a vital operator in recent years who initially joined ahead of the 2015/16 season and has since developed into an England international. Over his six years at Kingsholm, Heinz marked his 100th appearance against London Irish a few weeks ago and he now joins local rivals Worcester.
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“Although only brief, Ollie Atkins’ time at Gloucester will be remembered for the energy and enthusiasm he brought to every training session. The Australian has been a true professional in helping prepare the team, even when not involved in the matchday 23.
“A Premiership veteran, Jamie Gibson has passed on some of his vast knowledge of competing in the top flight and after a year with Gloucester, his contract has come to an end. The ex-England forward made seven appearances for the Cherry and Whites.”
'He had brainwashed me… I should have stayed an All Blacks supporter'
More surfer dude than rugby jock, Jordy Reid took an unconventional route to @gloucesterrugby as @heagneyl ??? finds out https://t.co/fy2EVdXAUu
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) June 6, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
Lets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
10 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
9 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
10 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
9 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
6 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to comments