'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.
Comments on RugbyPass
Results probably skewed by the fact that a few clubs have foreign fly halves in their 30s, but most teams have young English scrum halves. Results also likely to be skewed by the fact that many teams rely on centres and fullbacks to provide depth at 10, whereas they will need to stock a large number of specialist backup 9s.
1 Go to commentsI really get the sense that when all is said and done, the path of least resistance will end up being a merger of Wasps & Worcester that essentially kills the Worcester Warriors brand and sees Wasps permanently playing at Sixways. I’m not saying that’s what should happen or what I want to happen. I just think it’s the easiest rout to take and therefore, will be what happens. Wasps will definitely return to play first, and I suppose it all depends on if they can find support at Sixways. If people turn up and support Wasps in that community, at that ground, I bet they drop the Sevenoaks plan and just remain at Sixways. Under the radar but not totally unrelated, it looks as though London Irish are going to be brought back from the dead by a German consortium and look set to return, likely to the remade Championship. It’s set to have 12 clubs next season with 14 in 2025/26, what do you want to bet those extra 2 are Wasps and London Irish?
1 Go to commentsThe shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to commentsOh dear, bones too suspect to continue?
2 Go to commentsBold headline considering the Canes and Blues are 1 and 2 and the Brumbies were soundly beaten by the Chiefs and Blues. Biggest surprise is Rebels 4 Crusaders 12 - no one saw that coming. If Aus are improving that’s great 👍
1 Go to commentsAnna, You are right, we need to have patience whilst the others catch up to England and France. Also it is the PWR that has been the game changer for England. the RFU put money into that initially at the expense of the Red Roses. I was sceptical at first but it has paid off in spades.
1 Go to commentsI think Matt Proctor became a 1 test AB in the same fixture. Cameron is quality and has been great this season, can’t believe’s he only 27. Realistically how would he not be selected for ABs squad this year. Only Dmac is ahead of him as a specialist 10. With Jordan out, it will come down to where and when Beauden Barrett slots back in, and where they want to play Ruben Love. Cameron seems an absolute lock in for the wider squad though. Added benefit of TJ-Cameron-Jordie combination at 9, 10, 11 too.
1 Go to commentsFarcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
1 Go to commentsHavili, our best 12 by a mile, will be in the squad, if he stays fit. JB is the most overrated AB in the last 50 years.
61 Go to commentsWe had during the week twilight footy, twilight cricket, tw golf plus there was the athletics club. Then the weekend was rugby 15s plus the net ball, really busy club scene back then but so much has changed and rugby has suffered. And it was all about changing lifestyles.
6 Go to commentsIn the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getting to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
6 Go to commentsROG’s contract is until 2027. The conversation about a successor to Galthie after RWC 2027 may be starting now. We can infer that Galthie’s reign stops then. He is throwing the Irish Coaching Job angle in because he is Irish. The next Irish coach MUST be Leo Cullen. As well as being the best coach available, coaching the vast majority of Irish Internationals week in week out, he has shown incredible skill at recruiting the best coaching staff for the job in hand. That was a failing in France. Cullen is a shrewd guy and if there is a need for foreign coaches underneath him he won’t hesitate. Rightly so. Ireland does need to start to bring Irish coaches through. Not just at the professional level but we need to train coaches to man new pathways for developing kids from schools/clubs up through the divisions.
8 Go to commentsNo Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
6 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
56 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
8 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
61 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to comments