Gloucester player ratings vs Exeter Chiefs | 2026/27 Gallagher PREM

Gloucester player ratings: Gloucester opened their Gallagher PREM campaign in emphatic fashion as they ran in seven tries to beat Exeter Chiefs 45-24 at Sandy Park.

The visitors repeatedly troubled Exeter with their kicking game in the first half before their forwards increasingly took control, with Dewi Lake, Jac Morgan and Seb Atkinson producing particularly influential performances. Ben Loader crossed twice, while Will Joseph added the pick of the scores with a stunning solo effort as Gloucester pulled clear.

Here’s how the Gloucester team rated:

15 Ben Redshaw – 7.5
Made an immediate impact, breaking the line before producing a superb pass in contact to send Loader over for Gloucester’s opening try. His brilliant scrambling tackle on Varney later prevented what looked a certain Exeter score. Made 34 metres from only three carries.

14 Will Joseph – 8.5
Produced one of the outstanding moments of the match for his second-half try, using footwork, power and a dummy to beat three defenders on a weaving run to the line. Covered 60 metres from only three carries and later recovered superbly to bundle the rampaging Kane James into touch.

13 Phil Cokanasiga – 6
Had some difficult moments defensively, most notably for Roots’ try when he was slow to recover before going too high on the Exeter flanker. Still completed 14 tackles and partially redeemed himself late on with the interception that eventually resulted in Denny scoring Gloucester’s seventh.

Fixture

Gallagher Premiership

Exeter Chiefs

24 - 45

Full-time

Gloucester

All Stats and Data

12 Seb Atkinson – 8.5
One of Gloucester’s finest performers. Read Englefield’s perfectly weighted kick brilliantly for his try and later helped create Joseph’s sensational score. His enormous breakdown penalty while Gloucester were defending their line with 14 men was another defining contribution. Added 14 tackles and two offloads.

11 Ben Loader – 8.5
A clinical afternoon from the wing. His first score was put on a plate by Redshaw, but there was considerably more work required for his second, spinning through Immanuel Feyi-Waboso after gathering Atkinson’s cross-field kick. Finished with two line breaks, 51 metres from 11 carries and was secure underneath the high ball.

10 Charlie Atkinson – 8
Gloucester consistently caused Exeter problems with kicks behind and across their defensive line, and Atkinson was central to that approach. His cross-field kick gave Loader his second score and he generally managed the game intelligently. Also got through 12 tackles.

9 Caolan Englefield – 8
Produced a beautifully weighted dink for Seb Atkinson’s try and gave Gloucester plenty of tempo during his 55 minutes. His kicking frequently asked questions of the Exeter backfield, while he also contributed seven tackles and an offload.

1 Val Rapava-Ruskin – 7
Did his job before being withdrawn early in the second half. Gloucester earned an important scrum penalty shortly after the restart and the loosehead was also busy defensively, completing 12 tackles.

2 Dewi Lake – 9
A superb competitive debut, earning player of the match. Combined with Morgan to win a crucial penalty inside Gloucester’s 22 and then scored twice, showing excellent awareness to stay inches inside the touchline for his first before powering over from the maul for his second. Thirteen carries, 12 tackles and a 100 per cent lineout completed a huge performance.

3 Afolabi Fasogbon – 7
A solid outing from the young tighthead. Helped Gloucester secure a scrum penalty immediately after the break and contributed seven tackles before making way after 52 minutes.

4 Jean Kleyn – 7
Brought plenty of physicality during his 52 minutes and provided some experienced ballast to a Gloucester pack that increasingly imposed itself. Made 10 tackles and carried six times before Ludlow replaced him.

5 Arthur Clark – 8
Regularly found himself at the heart of Gloucester’s destructive maul, which became one of their primary attacking weapons. Also produced a huge defensive workload with 19 completed tackles, although three misses kept him below the very highest marks.

6 Freddie Thomas – 6
There was plenty to admire in his work-rate, with 19 tackles and seven carries, but the yellow card significantly damaged his afternoon. His no-arms tackle, following repeated Gloucester offsides, gave Exeter an opportunity to attack against 14 late on.

7 Jac Morgan – 8.5
A relentless performance from the Wales international. Combined with Lake to win a penalty when Exeter were battering away inside the Gloucester 22 before producing another textbook turnover after the interval. No player made more than his 20 tackles and he was influential throughout.

8 Will Trenholm – 7
An energetic display before Clement replaced him after 62 minutes. Carried ten times for 39 metres and produced two offloads while completing 13 tackles. Four missed tackles were the obvious blemish.

Replacements – 8
Junior Denny made the standout contribution, showing the pace and awareness to gather Seb Atkinson’s beautifully weighted late kick and complete Gloucester’s seven-try afternoon.