Gloucester's Ross Byrne linked with URC return but it's not Irish

Former Ireland fly-half Ross Byrne could be offered an escape route from his Gloucester nightmare with a return to the United Rugby Championship, with the Sharks interested in having him solve their problem position.

The Sharks have failed to sign Wallabies star James O’Connor, who is looking likely to return home when he leaves Leicester Tigers this summer, and Italy ace Tommaso Allan, who will be plying his trade for Zebre next season.

Sharks boss JP Pietersen is facing the prospect of losing Jordan Hendrikse to World Cup preparation next season, while Jean Smith, like Allan, is also heading to Italy in the summer after signing a three-year deal with Benetton in an attempt to revive his career.

Pietersen has now switched his attention towards Dublin-born Byrne, 31, who won the United Rugby Championship five times in a decade with Leinster before signing a three-year deal with the Cherry and Whites at the start of the season.

Gloucester signing Byrne, a member of Ireland’s 2023 Grand Slam-winning side, was seen as a real statement of intent, and he started the season as first choice first-half, but hasn’t played since the PREM Rugby Cup win over Sale Sharks in February.

Charlie Atkinson’s switch from full-back has been a success, leaving Byrne out in the cold, and Gloucester boss George Skivington last week admitted the move hadn’t worked as anticipated, as he struggles with their style of play.

“Being frank, it’s not gone the way we saw it going initially. But I think you caveat that, really, with Charlie, who is in a way better position than we could have anticipated. Ross is still here, training and being positive.

“There’s no, you know, there’s no sort of drama around that. The biggest challenge we’ve had since we made that switch is that we haven’t had loads of games, and to start rotating the 10 shirt doesn’t really work.

“So from that point of view, Ross has sort of lost out because, you know, Charlie’s had the backing of it.

It’s not ideal because, you know, if you had other opportunities to play, you could sort of give Ross another opportunity and see how that goes.

“Charlie’s done a really good job and, you know, he’s playing the best rugby I’ve ever seen him play. So, you know, he’s getting selected on merit. If Charlie hadn’t taken the ball by the horns and run with it, then maybe Ross is back in play and found his footing,” he told RugbyPass.