Gloucester Rugby player ratings vs Exeter Chiefs | 2025/25 Gallagher Prem

Gloucester Rugby secured a fourth victory of the 2025/26 Gallagher Prem season with a mightily impressive 34- 31 victory over the Exeter Chiefs.

Despite being firmly out of the play-off running, the Cherry and Whites put a dent into the hopes of Chiefs push towards a top four berth.

Overcoming an early set back which saw the visitors pounce on a loose ball and race away for the opening try through Italian international Ross Vintcent. Gloucester responded in quick fashion with three superb tries through Max Llewellyn (2) and Tomos Williams.

Securing the bonus point inside 32 minutes, the home side showed incredible poise to respond each time the Chiefs threatened to comeback into the contest.

Setting up a grandstand finish through a heavily debated try, Henry Slade set the Chiefs up to steal the result. Yet, for all of the pressure they were under, Gloucester once again showed their temperament to take control of the closing stages and wind down the clock.

Here is how the Gloucester players performed.

1. Val Rapava-Ruskin – 8
Getting underneath Josh Iosefa Scott, Ruskin in combination with his front row partners utterly nullified the Chiefs at scrum time. Routinely forcing Iosefa-Scott to collapse in, pop up or mistime his hit, the Georgian born powerhouse put on a clinic at the Shed.

2. Jack Innard – 7.5
A constant pain in the side for the Chiefs’ at the breakdown, set-piece time and in open play where he battered ball carriers on more than a few occasions. Playing on the edge from the off, the hooker did well to concede just one penalty whilst disrupting the Chiefs’ flow.

3. Afolabi Fasogbon – 9
Made hay under glorious West Country sunshine in a scrummaging performance that lay the platform his side’s impressive outing. Squeezing Will Goodrick-Clarke and Joseph Dweba, Fasogban popped the Chiefs’ pair on a few occasions as his pack trundled forward at scrum time. At the breakdown, the 21-year-old wrecked shop with his power, one such incident led to a brilliant turnover inside the first minute of the second half.

4. Arthur Clark – 8
Industrious in all departments, Clark brought much needed oomph that clearly played a key role in his pack dominating at scrum time. Away from the set-piece, Clark was a notably presence around the breakdown in particular in attack as his side rolled through the gears. Whilst it can’t be quantified on the stat sheet, Clark’s willingness to carry into heavy traffic was impressive. Finally, at line-out time he was a danger on both team’s throws.

5. Matias Alemanno – 6
Workmanlike in the best possible sense, Alemanno had a handful of solid carries and tackles but his best work was done at the breakdown. In the air, he won three line-outs which ensured that Gloucester’s line-out could keep some necessary variation ahead from Clark.

6. Freddie Thomas – 8
Looking more than comfortable in a less familiar role of blindside flanker, the regular lock brought a hard edge to his pack. Putting in dominant hits, making key meters in tight and beating defenders, the Welsh international had arguably his best performance of the season. Appearing to have a bit more ‘juice’ in the legs, Thomas hit some superb running lines, one of which should’ve set up his side’s first try of the second half only for it to be called back for a forward pass.

7. Lewis Ludlow – 7.5
Unglamorous but central to his side’s ability to repel the Chiefs’ power game. Getting through 12 tackles and winning 3 line-outs, Ludlow brought crucial leadership that kept his pack on track when the game threatened to break open in favour of the visitors. Having the final say, Ludlow plucked the last line-out to set up a Gloucester maul inside the Chiefs’ five meter line with 30 seconds remaining.

8. Will Trenholm – 9
Physicality personified through the opening half and hour. The number eight powered over for a first Prem try in what proved to be a momentum stunting score for a Chiefs’ side who were on the comeback. Setting out his stall, the former London Scottish standout built his game around a relentless work ethic topping both the tackle (18) and carry charts (22). Taking home the player of the match award says it all for the number eight’s performance.

9. Tomos Williams – 8.5
Reiterated why he was a British and Irish Lion in 2025. Gloucester’s Welsh maestro slung out quite possibly the pass of season to find Will Joseph in the 9th minute. gliding an inch out of reach of the Exeter defence, the pass sent the winger haring towards the Chief’s line. This pass came on the back of Williams crabbing across field which dragged the onrushing Chiefs out of position. Mixing in several punchy snipes around the fringes of the breakdown, pinpoint box kicking and a relentless pursuit of tempo, the scrumhalf had a sensational showing. Pouncing for a super score in the 22nd minute was just reward for Williams.

10. Charlie Atkinson – 8
Controlled proceedings exceptionally well both from the boot and with his management of Gloucester’s multiphase attacking patterns. Individually, the 24-year-old had some deft touches that proved to be the combination to the Chiefs’ defensive lock. One particular moment saw him ride a tackle before flicking a back handed offload that should’ve saw the home side net a fifth try on the stroke of half-time. Defensively, his biggest moment came in the 74th minute with a big time turnover when Immanuel Feyi-Waboso threatened to wriggle free for what would’ve been the winning try.

11. Ben Loader – 9
Fizzing around the park, the former Stormers winger brought an edge to Cherry and White’s tramlines. Hitting the ball at pace with unpredictable lines, Loader make chunk gains in a hurry. Bouncing off Chiefs’ defenders, Loader found Max Llewellyn for a try that in truth had no right being scored such was the cover of the Chiefs defence. Yet, in a moment that highlight just how effective Loader was, the try took the home side two scores clear inside 25 minutes. Closing his account in the 70th minute with a table topping 161 meters made with 11 defenders beaten and 3 line-breaks.

12. Seb Atkinson – 8
Flip flopped exceptionally well with his brother as a first distributor. This ability to change the picture forced the Chiefs’ defenders to sit on their heels slowing their defensive rush. Defensively, Atkinson was immense with his physicality going a long way to shutting out the Chiefs’ potent midfield. Over the ball, he pulled off a brilliant first half at a point where his side were under pressure.

13. Max Llewellyn – 7
Nabbed an early brace of tries to offset the Chiefs’ early try. Staring down the experienced pairing of Len Ikitau and Henry Slade, the Welsh international physically got an edge on the pairing. Splitting them on a couple of occasions with ball in hand whilst defensively he held them up just enough for Gloucester to win some timely turnovers. Unfortunately his afternoon was cut short through injury just before half-time.

14. Will Joseph – 7.5
Enjoyed a fascinating tussle with Immanuel Feyi-Waboso both aerially and with ball in hand. Hitting that early sweet line off Williams’ long pass, would prove to be a premonition of what was to come. Joseph time and again found a soft shoulder. One moment that he will rue was when Feyi-Waboso got on his inside and brought the Chiefs back into the contest. Parking this disappointment, he continued to compete hard and closed his account with an impressive

15. George Barton – 7.5
Completing a backline that dazzled, Barton brought solidity to a backfield that the Chiefs probed with searching kicks. Covering the open grass well, returning the ball with interest both from the boot and in hand. When things got loose in attack, the fullback was inevitably the player to clean things up and reset play on the edge. Barton had a rock solid yet varied performance that could easily be underestimated given the splash plays being made by those around him.

Replacements
16. George Knowles – N/A
Did not feature.

17. Dian Bleuler – N/A
Far from the impact the South African would’ve wanted to make, the former Hollywoodbets Sharks and Munster loosehead was shown a yellow card within 30 seconds of coming on the pitch.

18. Nepo Laulala – N/A
Came on for three minutes.

19. Danny Eite – 7
Came on and made a few notable tackles and carries. Most importantly he nabbed a couple of crucial line-outs that helped his side retain possession in the dying minutes of the match.

20. Jack Clement – 7
Replaced Arthur Clarke in the final 15 minutes and did exactly what was required of him with some timely tackles and physicality at the breakdown. His standout moment came in the 77th minute when he burst through for a key half break that ultimately led to a penalty that took his side inside the Chiefs’ five meter line to seal the win.

21. James Venter – 5
Came on for a quick eight minute stint in which he made a few big tackles but ultimately there was limited opportunities for him to make a major impact.

22. Caolan Englefield – 6
Playing out of position, the scrumhalf did exceptionally well not to be caught out by a red hot Immanuel Feyi-Waboso. Marshalling the Chiefs’ wide carriers back in-field, Englefield made use of those around him.

23. Ollie Thorley – 5
Getting an extended run due to Llewellyn’s 39th minute departure, Thorley did well in a contest that had become cagey. Unfortunately his afternoon would only last 20 minutes as he departed with an injury.