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Trio of stars to stay at Gloucester

By Online Editors
Ruan Ackermann made an appearance for the Barbarians

Gloucester Rugby have confirmed that three of their most talented young forwards have agreed new deals to remain in Cherry and White.

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Back row duo Jake Polledri and Ruan Ackermann have joined loosehead prop Val Rapava Ruskin in putting pen to paper on new deals with the club.

Flanker Polledri joined the Cherry and Whites at the beginning of the 2017-18 season after impressing for Hartpury RFC in their National One winning campaign.

He has since experienced a rapid rise to the top of the game, winning international honours with Italy, and is one of the most exciting young players in the world game.

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Despite his initial first contract with the club running until the end of the 2019-20 season, the club have been quick to secure Polledri’s service well beyond that date and have agreed an extension.

Polledri has made 37 appearances in Cherry and White since his switch from Hartpury RFC, and in his first season he was nominated for the RPA Young Player and Land Rover Discovery of the Season after a breakthrough start to his career.

Joining Jake in agreeing a new deal is South African back-rower Ruan Ackermann, the son of Head Coach Johan, who agrees a new deal as he looks ahead to his third season in Cherry and White.

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Having moved to England shortly before the start of the 2017-18 season, the former Lions flanker has been a key part of the Cherry and White squad over the past two seasons, and his form saw him pick up the Premiership Player of the Month award in November 2017.

The 23-year old is part of a hugely exciting group of young, dynamic back rowers at the club, and has made 34 appearances so far in Cherry and White, scoring five tries including a brace in the West Country Derby clash against Bath in September.

The third player confirmed to agree a new deal with the club recently is prop Val Rapava-Ruskin. The Georgian born forward is a destructive scrummager, and offers a huge presence around the park.

Loosehead prop Rapava Ruskin is nearing a return to competitive action after missing out since mid-December when he suffered a calf injury ahead of the Champions Cup fixture at Exeter.

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The English qualified front rower joined the Cherry and Whites from Worcester Warriors, and has made 21 appearances in his two seasons at the club so far, scoring one try, with his form in a Gloucester Rugby shirt seeing him tipped for international recognition by many observers.

Director of Rugby David Humphreys today confirmed the importance of securing the long-term services of players of this calibre.

“I’ve said on several occasions that, for Gloucester Rugby to be successful at the highest level, we have to develop and retain our own talent and I’m delighted to confirm these three contract extensions.

“Jake, Ruan and Val are all talented young players with, hopefully, years of rugby at the highest level in front of them. They are the sort of players that we would like to form the core of our pack for years to come.

“Following the first announcement earlier this year regarding contract renewals, and the Academy players who have signed senior contracts, we are delighted with the way that the squad is shaping up for next season.”

Meanwhile, the three players concerned reacted as follows:

Ruan Ackermann

“I’ve loved my two seasons at Gloucester Rugby so far, and it’s amazing to be agreeing a new deal. The club, it’s supporters and the whole squad have embraced me since I arrived in 2017, and I can’t wait for what is to come for this group.

“We’ve got a settled group, and it’s great to see players pledging their futures to the club, wanting to drive the team forward, and improving in all areas of the squad.”

Jake Polledri

“Gloucester Rugby gave me a chance to play at the top level, and I am hugely grateful for the opportunity to sign a new deal, and continue to play in Cherry and White. This is a place that I am excited to call my home, and playing in front of Kingsholm gets better on every occasion.

“We’ve got a young, talented squad, with competition in every single position, and I am excited to keep developing, learning and growing in this environment, working with these boys.”

Val Rapava Ruskin

“I have really enjoyed my time in Cherry and White so far, and I’m excited for what is to come. I feel that I have a lot more to give to the jersey and play my part in this exciting squad, and contribute to the memorable days ahead.

“It’s an exciting time to be at the club, and we are all driving in the same direction, and this is where I want to be.”

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Jon 2 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

This is the problem with conservative mindsets and phycology, and homogenous sports, everybody wants to be the same, use the i-win template. Athlete wise everyone has to have muscles and work at the gym to make themselves more likely to hold on that one tackle. Do those players even wonder if they are now more likely to be tackled by that player as a result of there “work”? Really though, too many questions, Jake. Is it better Jake? Yes, because you still have that rugby of ole that you talk about. Is it at the highest International level anymore? No, but you go to your club or checkout your representative side and still engage with that ‘beautiful game’. Could you also have a bit of that at the top if coaches encouraged there team to play and incentivized players like Damian McKenzie and Ange Capuozzo? Of course we could. Sadly Rugby doesn’t, or didn’t, really know what direction to go when professionalism came. Things like the state of northern pitches didn’t help. Over the last two or three decades I feel like I’ve been fortunate to have all that Jake wants. There was International quality Super Rugby to adore, then the next level below I could watch club mates, pulling 9 to 5s, take on the countries best in representative rugby. Rugby played with flair and not too much riding on the consequences. It was beautiful. That largely still exists today, but with the world of rugby not quite getting things right, the picture is now being painted in NZ that that level of rugby is not required in the “pathway” to Super Rugby or All Black rugby. You might wonder if NZR is right and the pathway shouldn’t include the ‘amateur’, but let me tell you, even though the NPC might be made up of people still having to pull 9-5s, we know these people still have dreams to get out of that, and aren’t likely to give them. They will be lost. That will put a real strain on the concept of whether “visceral thrill, derring-do and joyful abandon” type rugby will remain under the professional level here in NZ. I think at some point that can be eroded as well. If only wanting the best athlete’s at the top level wasn’t enough to lose that, shutting off the next group, or level, or rugby players from easy access to express and showcase themselves certainly will. That all comes back around to the same question of professionalism in rugby and whether it got things right, and rugby is better now. Maybe the answer is turning into a “no”?

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j
john 5 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

But here in Australia we were told Penney was another gun kiwi coach, for the Tahs…….and yet again it turned out the kiwi coach was completely useless. Another con job on Australian rugby. As was Robbie Deans, as was Dave Rennie. Both coaches dumped from NZ and promoted to Australia as our saviour. And the Tahs lap them up knowing they are second rate and knowing that under pressure when their short comings are exposed in Australia as well, that they will fall in below the largest most powerful province and choose second rate Tah players to save their jobs. As they do and exactly as Joe Schmidt will do. Gauranteed. Schmidt was dumped by NZ too. That’s why he went overseas. That why kiwi coaches take jobs in Australia, to try and prove they are not as bad as NZ thought they were. Then when they get found out they try and ingratiate themselves to NZ again by dragging Australian teams down with ridiculous selections and game plans. NZ rugby’s biggest problem is that it can’t yet transition from MCaw Cheatism. They just don’t know how to try and win on your merits. It is still always a contest to see how much cheating you can get away with. Without a cheating genius like McCaw, they are struggling. This I think is why my wise old mate in NZ thinks Robertson will struggle. The Crusaders are the nursery of McCaw Cheatism. Sean Fitzpatrick was probably the father of it. Robertson doesn’t know anything else but other countries have worked it out.

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A
Adrian 7 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

Thanks Nick The loss of players to OS, injury and retirement is certainly not helping the Crusaders. Ditto the coach. IMO Penny is there to hold the fort and cop the flak until new players and a new coach come through,…and that's understood and accepted by Penny and the Crusaders hierarchy. I think though that what is happening with the Crusaders is an indicator of what is happening with the other NZ SRP teams…..and the other SRP teams for that matter. Not enough money. The money has come via the SR competition and it’s not there anymore. It's in France, Japan and England. Unless or until something is done to make SR more SELLABLE to the NZ/Australia Rugby market AND the world rugby market the $s to keep both the very best players and the next rung down won't be there. They will play away from NZ more and more. I think though that NZ will continue to produce the players and the coaches of sufficient strength for NZ to have the capacity to stay at the top. Whether they do stay at the top as an international team will depend upon whether the money flowing to SRP is somehow restored, or NZ teams play in the Japan comp, or NZ opts to pick from anywhere. As a follower of many sports I’d have to say that the organisation and promotion of Super Rugby has been for the last 20 years closest to the worst I’ve ever seen. This hasn't necessarily been caused by NZ, but it’s happened. Perhaps it can be fixed, perhaps not. The Crusaders are I think a symptom of this, not the cause

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T
Trevor 9 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

21 Go to comments
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