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'The attacking brand of rugby Gloucester play is very exciting. But I get a lot of pride from the set-piece'
“I love this club as much as anyone,” Alex Brown says to me. He glowers briefly, those dark eyes flashing as they did on any of the near 250 times he played in Cherry and White. “And I can tell you that, even though these last few months have been the most difficult I’ve ever endured, I know we are now headed in the right direction.”
Brown is newly installed as Gloucester Rugby’s Chief Commercial Officer, having been asked to take on a fair amount of the role that the previous Director of Rugby would have shouldered. He is in charge of contracts; he’s been busy. There are few people who know the club as well as Brown, few who know what Gloucester need right now.
“COVID has produced so many issues and difficulties for the club. Myself, Lance and the team have worked so hard to get a future. We have, to date, made sixteen different versions of the budget for next year. The picture has changed so many times.
“We’ve made people redundant, cut pay, it’s been very tough. And on top of all of that, we have had to hire a new head coach. As I say, very tough, but I think we are turning a corner.”
A number of men have tried the head coach role before. What is different this time around?
“A young, promising, English coach was the key metric for us. Someone who understands the league in which we are operating. It is so competitive, so relentless; I think it takes time for any coach coming in, who does not have Premiership experience, to understand that.
“I have learnt so much from all the different coaches we’ve had, they’ve all been successful in different ways, but as a club, we have lost the aura that we used to have. I think our new man has that. There’s a determined desire to succeed. And he’s young, he has everything to prove and will work so hard on behalf of this club.
“He’s very impressive; I know the fans will love him.”
Across a corridor of Kingsholm is the office of the CEO. Another man new to the role, but someone who has spent a large amount of his previous career thriving.
Lance Bradley served ten years at the top of Mitsubishi Motors in the UK, one of the world’s leading car manufacturers; a sector as competitive as any. He is softly spoken, but there is a steel to his personality forged from some extremely tenacious marketplaces. He comes with an inbuilt ability to think differently and, on occasion, ask difficult questions.
Bradley took the top job at Gloucester back in September of 2019. A date which seems like a lifetime ago.
Before England had dispatched the All Blacks in a quite sensational World Cup semi-final and then lost a heart-breaking final. Before the Saracens’ saga unravelled and the salary cap had been scrutinised and reapplied. Before Coronavirus had turned worlds upside down and professional rugby had to face the very real prospect of zero income. Before a time when difficult questions needed to be asked.
“On the commercial side, that was easy, I was used to asking how things were done. But on the playing side, that was more difficult. And it became apparent things weren’t right. We lost all our preseason games, and bar a couple of opening games, we started to lose, and most importantly, lose in the same way, every week.
'We must unfortunately continue to make tough choices in order to protect the club for the foreseeable future'https://t.co/iT9v1ht1nW
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) July 1, 2020
“I suggested that if we carried on like that we could get relegated and the response was, “We’ve not been relegated before, so we won’t get relegated now.” I found that outlook concerning.
“If you carry on doing the same thing, you will get the same results.”
“As CEO, I wanted to talk to everyone. I was open and honest about who I spoke to. Management knew; there were no secret meetings. But the more people I spoke to, the more I felt things weren’t right. That’s not a rugby feeling, that’s a management feeling.
“I never want to interfere in things that aren’t my job. But when you get the information I was, you kinda have to. I asked difficult questions on the rugby side and they weren’t well received. Those questions started the process; it played out like it did.”
When it came to hiring a new head coach, Bradley was once again advised that there were certain things he couldn’t do.
“Apparently, you can’t involve the players in that process. I was told that in no uncertain terms. But my understanding is that, ultimately, when you bring in a new leader to a group of people already in place, you need buy-in. You can’t force someone onto those people.
Director of rugby Pat Lam described Dickinson as 'the standout candidate' for the role.https://t.co/LVh2l3Khej
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) July 1, 2020
“If you involve them in the process, then they feel part of the decision and are much more likely to try and make it work. We asked the senior playing group what the most important attributes were in a new head coach. We then used that criteria to run an extensive search. We then ran an interview process and reduced the large field to two candidates and took those two names back to that same group.
“They were unanimous in choosing George (Skivington). It wasn’t a democratic election but we listened to what they had to say. Rugby is a sport in which the whole team needs to contribute. Despite being told that it couldn’t be done, we achieved that in appointing George.”
There are questions, however: Bradley, Brown and Skivington make a green trio, despite their experience elsewhere, they do lack familiarity with their respective roles.
“You could put a negative spin on it,” counters Brown, “I’m sure there will be some people who will. But whilst I will concede that we are all new to our jobs in relative terms, there is one major advantage to that: we question everything.
“One of the first things Lance said to us all was that we can’t have the answer: ‘that’s just the way we have always done it.’ We are existing in such turbulent and difficult times, you have to think about everything you do. You can’t just accept things in their present state. We have to ask, can we make that better?”
It is the third time Ralepelle has tested positive for a banned substance.https://t.co/RTWlUj7Lpk
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) July 1, 2020
“If I’m honest,” continues Brown, “I don’t think we made the most of the talent available to us locally. We haven’t utilised the talent pool we have in this area. It’s all on our doorstep and we have to make use of that. George has that same vision and we want to bring that back to Kingsholm.”
It is 10:25pm, when my mobile phone flashes into life. Having just spent a long first day at his new club, George Skivington is calling me as requested.
I pick up and, despite the late hour, there is still a noticeable brightness to his voice. He won’t talk to me about the circumstances surrounding him leaving London Irish, that is for others, but he is more than happy to talk about Gloucester.
“I have a pretty good understanding of all the different clubs in the Premiership, and this is a rugby hotbed. As a young player, I was shaped by a fair few visits down to Kingsholm and when the opportunity came through to me, I didn’t think twice.
“I’m an honest guy. I have always worked hard and the competitive and relentless nature of the Premiership is what I live for. But I recognise how tricky it is. This is an emotional sport, as well as a physical one, you have to understand how that can take its toll.
WATCH: @crusadersrugby halfback Bryn Hall and @BluesRugbyTeam hooker James Parsons join the Aotearoa Rugby Pod to discuss all things #SuperRugbyAoteroa and the proposed All Blacks-Kangaroos clash.https://t.co/JXwrBpyxFN
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) July 1, 2020
“The new salary restrictions are going to put even more pressure on squads and players, and you have to appreciate that.
“We have an interesting period coming up when we restart; an interesting dynamic. We will get a chance to see everyone play. I want to give everyone a chance to impress me in the remainder of this season. There are massive positives in finishing this season and I will be giving guys opportunities.
“I don’t really know the guys here, and I am coming in with no pre-conceptions. It’s going to be an interesting few months.”
Skivington has temporarily moved up to Gloucester and left his young family behind in Surrey. But they will not be far behind him.
“We have to sort all of that out, it’s going on in the background, moving them here, new schools; it’s a lot to try and deal with. But I know my family will love this club too.
Marler picked up a 10 week ban for his actions. #EnglandRugby pic.twitter.com/Rw0CnK5weM
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) July 1, 2020
“You can feel the loyalty this place creates. The connection to the city, so many fans have grown up here, been coming to this club for so long. That’s powerful, we will need to harness that.
“My job is not to rip things up and start over. The attacking brand of rugby Gloucester has had in recent times is very exciting. But I get a lot of pride from the set-piece; from making those things work. Maybe that hasn’t been a strength in recent seasons. That is what I want to get right.”
Getting things right will be paramount. As loyal as the fans are down in Gloucester, they are knowledgeable and vociferous. They also love winning.
There will be many interested to see how quickly this team can make that happen.
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Comments on RugbyPass
We will always struggle for money to match the other sides but the least the WRU can do is invest properly in Welsh rugby. Too much has been squandered on vanity projects like the hotel and roof walk amongst others which will never see a massive return. Hanging the 4 pro sides out to dry over the last decade is now coming back to bite the WRU financially as well as on the pitch. You reap what you sow.
1 Go to commentsWhat do you get if you cross a doctor with a fish? A plastic sturgeon
14 Go to commentsWhat happened to feleti Kaitu’u? Hasnt played in a while right?
1 Go to commentsGregor I just can’t agree with you. You are trying to find something that just isn’t there. Jordie Barrett has signed until 2028. By the end of that he would have spent probably 11-12 years on Super Rugby and you say he can’t possibly have one season playing somewhere else. It is absurd. What about this scenario, the NZR play hard ball and he decides to leave and play overseas. How would that affect the competition. There seems to be an agenda by certain journalists to push certain agendas and don’t like it when it’s not to their liking. I fully support the NZR on this. Gregor needs to get a life.
2 Go to commentsHope he stays as believe he can do a great job.
1 Go to commentsMake what step up? Manie has a World Cup winner’s medal around his neck and changed the way the Springboks can play. He doesn’t have anything to prove to anyone. The win record of the Boks with him in the team is tremendous. Sacha can be wonderful and I hope he has a very succesful Bok career, but comparing him to Manie in terms of the next Bok flyhalf is very strange. Manie is the incumbent (not the next) and doing pretty incredibly.
1 Go to comments00 😍 U
1 Go to commentsSabbaticals have helped keep NZ’s very best talent in the country on long term deals - this fact has been left out of this article. Much like the articles calling to allow overseas players to be selected, yet can only name one player currently not signed to NZR who would be selected for the ABs. And in the entire history of NZ players leaving to play overseas, literally only 4 or 5 have left in their prime as current ABs. (Piatau, Evans, Hayman, Mo’unga,?) Yes Carter got an injury while playing in France 16 years ago, but he also got a tournament ending injury at the 2011 World Cup while taking mid-week practice kicks at goal. Maybe Jordie gets a season-ending injury while playing in Ireland, maybe he gets one next week against the Brumbies. NZR have many shortcomings, but keeping the very best players in the country and/or available for ABs selection is not one of them. Likewise for workload management - players missing 2 games out of 14 is hardly a big deal in the grand scheme of things. Again let’s use some facts - did it stop the Crusaders winning SR so many times consecutively when during any given week they would be missing 2 of their best players? The whole idea of the sabbatical is to reward your best players who are willing to sign very long term deals with some time to do whatever they want. They are not handed out willy-nilly, and at nowhere near the levels that would somehow devalue Super Rugby. In this particular example JB is locked in with NZR for what will probably (hopefully) be the best years of his career, hard to imagine him not sticking around for a couple more after for a Lions tour and one more world cup. He has the potential to become the most capped AB of all time. A much better outcome than him leaving NZ for a minimum of 3 years at the age of 27, unlikely to ever play for the ABs again, which would be the likely alternative.
2 Go to commentsJake White talks more sense than anything I've read in the last 5 years. Hope someone's listening.
9 Go to commentsThe Springboks tried going down the road of only picking home-based players and it was an unmitigated disaster in 2016 and 2017. Picking overseas-based players has been one of the main reason the Boks have done so well since 2018, not only because of the quality Rassie could call on, but because of the knowledge and experience those players brought into camp from England, France and Japan. With some of the big names playing abroad it also gave younger players in SA the chance to break through at franchise level. Would we have seen the emergence of a Ruan Nortje if RG and Lood were still at the Bulls? Not so sure. I understand why Jake would want to block players leaving since his job depends on good results but it’s an approach that would take Bok rugby back to the bad old days and no South African wants to see that.
9 Go to commentsExeter were thumped by 38 points. And they only had to hop on a train.
39 Go to commentsI am De Groot.
1 Go to commentsHad hoped you might write an article on this game, Nick. It’s a good one. Things have not gone as smoothly for ROG since beating Leinster last year at the Aviva in the CC final. LAR had the Top 14 Final won till Raymond Rhule missed a simple tackle on the excellent Ntamack, and Toulouse reaped the rewards of just staying in the fight till the death. Then the disruption of the RWC this season. LAR have not handled that well, but they were not alone, and we saw Pau heading the Top 14 table at one stage early season. I would think one of the reasons for the poor showing would have to be that the younger players coming through, and the more mature amongst the group outside the top 25/30, are not as strong as would be hoped for. I note that Romain Sazy retired at the end of last season. He had been with LAR since 2010, and was thus one of their foundation players when they were promoted to Top 14. Records show he ended up with 336 games played with LAR. That is some experience, some rock in the team. He has been replaced for the most part by Ultan Dillane. At 30, Dillane is not young, but given the chances, he may be a fair enough replacement for Sazy. But that won’be for more than a few years. I honestly know little of the pathways into the LAR setup from within France. I did read somewhere a couple of years ago that on the way up to Top 14, the club very successfully picked up players from the academies of other French teams who were not offered places by those teams. These guys were often great signings…can’t find the article right now, so can’t name any….but the Tadgh Beirne type players. So all in all, it will be interesting to see where the replacements for all the older players come from. Only Lleyd’s and Rhule from SA currently, both backs. So maybe a few SA forwards ?? By contrast, Leinster have a pretty clear line of good players coming through in the majority of positions. Props maybe a weak spot ? And they are very fleet footed and shrewd in appointing very good coaches. Or maybe it is also true that very good coaches do very well in the Leinster setup. So, Nick, I would fully concurr that “On the evidence of Saturday’s semi-final between the two clubs, the rebuild in the Bay of Biscay is going to take longer than it is on the east coast of Ireland”
11 Go to commentsWhat was the excuse for the other knockout blowouts then? Does the result not prove the Saints were just so much better? Wise call to put your eggs in one basket when you’ve got 2 comps simultaneously finishing.
39 Go to commentsReally hope Kuruvoli and his partner rock the Canes.
1 Go to commentsI wonder what impact Samson has had on their attack, as the team seems less prone to trundle it up the middle, take the tackle and then trundle it up again. I lost faith in the coach last year as the Rebelss looked like a 2nd/3rd rate South African team. I also disliked Gordon standing back, often ignored as the forward battle went on and on. Maybe its our Aussie way of not getting off our A***’s until the enemy is at the gate.
86 Go to commentsThanks for the write up. Great to see the Rebs winning, I am a little interested in how they will go against the remaining kiwi teams, I think they’ve only played Hurricanes and Highlanders but how great to see these players performing!! I also see Parling has a job beyond June 30! A good move by RA? Also how do you fix the Rebels previously scratchy defence?
86 Go to commentsbe smart - go black
14 Go to commentsNext week the Crusaders hopefully have Scott Barrett back. Will be great to have the captain back. Hopefully he will be the All Black captain as well.
12 Go to commentsExciting place to be for the young fella. I expected he was French Polynesian when I saw him included in the France 6N squad (after seeing him in NZs), and therefor be strong grounds we might loose him to rugby down here. Good, in that he is good enough to warrant such a profile, and from a journalism’s fan interaction aspect, to finally get a back ground story on the fella. Hope he has settled into NZ OK and that at least one rugby country will fit with him to help his development, which, if so, he should surely continue for a few years, and then that he can experience France to it’s fullest with a bit more maturity and less reliance on family than you would have at his current age. A good 3 or 4 years before he would be ready for International duty if he wanted to wait. Of course he already sounds good enough to accept a call up, and to cap himself, in the more immediate future (he’d have to be very very good in the case of the ABs), and he’ll get a great taste of that being with the Canes who have a bunch who are just a few years further into their career and looking likely Internationals themselves.
14 Go to comments