'Steve's seen something': England A verdict on Charlie Atkinson

George Skivington expects good things from Charlie Atkinson when his Gloucester newcomer leads the England A team at out-half in Sunday’s fixture versus Portugal in Leicester.

The 22-year-old was a Christmas Eve arrival at Kingsholm from Leicester and despite only playing one match so far with his latest club, the ex-Wasps academy graduate has been named at No10 for his country.

Atkinson was a Steve Borthwick signing at the Tigers during the 2022/23 season after the collapse of Wasps. He went on to make 17 appearances at the club that soon appointed Richard Wigglesworth as interim boss after Borthwick became the England head coach.

Jesse Kriel on the Springboks’ rush defence | RPTV

Springbok Jesse Kriel discusses the famed rush defence and the pros of mastering it. Watch the full chat exclusively on RugbyPass TV

Watch now

Jesse Kriel on the Springboks’ rush defence | RPTV

Springbok Jesse Kriel discusses the famed rush defence and the pros of mastering it. Watch the full chat exclusively on RugbyPass TV

Watch now

However, with Wiglesworth having now also moved on to join England, Atkinson slipped down the pecking order at Leicester under Dan McKellar, playing just four times this season before his festive period switch to Gloucester.

He made a late January debut versus Sale in the Gallagher Premiership and four weeks after that maiden outing, he is now primed to play for England A with his club boss Skivington as the head coach for the Mattioli Woods Welford Road game.

"We have a duty…"

– RFU director Conor O'Shea on why England must proactively help tier two countries like Portugal, who are coming to Leicester next weekend. #EnglandRugby #ENGvPOR pic.twitter.com/NuwRM2xRLE

— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) February 18, 2024

“At Gloucester, we are really lucky to have got Charlie over from Leicester,” reckoned Skivington when asked how he rated seeing Atkinson in a different environment this week to Kingsholm.

“He is still fairly fresh in the building. He has done a lot of training now but only played one game for us so far, which he was good in. But I think he has grown into that role.

“There is a good opportunity at Gloucester for him at half-back, we want to try and make that position a bit more competitive and there is a good opportunity for him to take it and run with it.

“But I think he has come into this week and it’s a good opportunity for him. Steve was obviously the one who signed him at Leicester before he went to England, so Steve has seen something in him that he likes and he has done well.

“He has come in here, different group, has called the plays well; he has led without being overboard with that and it’s a good opportunity for him.

“He has just jumped from one environment, ours at Gloucester, to here – he’s getting used to that and it’s a big opportunity for him because he is held in high regard.”