GLOUCESTER ACADEMY LOOKS STRONG

95% of Gloucester Academy players will be likely to represent England at some level

Head of the Gloucester Rugby Club Academy Mark Cornwell believes he works with a lot of strong players who are likely to run out in an England shirt one day

“The majority of them that we get coming through the academy will represent England at some level.

We always get a tremendous amount of players in, the percentage is very high, I would say about 95%”

Youngsters such as Dave Lewis, Dan Noughton and Craig Sharpells are up and coming players aged between 16 and 20 who are unlikely to feature for the first team next season.

Cornwell said: “We won’t see them for a couple of years, they’re too young. Maybe in a few more seasons down the line”

More experienced players such as James Simpson-Daniel and Andy Hazel will play a key role in making sure these players that come through have the same attitude to the rest of the Gloucester team

Gloucester have a free-flowing style of rugby which has been easy on the eye this season. If the club are to maintain that style and image, the elite academy players will have to replicate the first teams efforts.

One position that has been improving over the past couple of years have been the wingers. Many hopefuls have impressed in front of Cornwell and his assistant Phil Greenaway

Very Best

To breakthrough into the impressive academy, Cornwell implied that a player will have to reach a certain level.

“They have to represent England at under-16 or under-18 level to reach the Gloucester Academy. We work with the very best”

Gloucester are now are now looking forward to a bright future in the hands of Cornwell and Greenaway, who will lead all the young players to a bright future

The Gloucester first team currently sit at the top of the table and will be hoping to extend the gap between themselves and Bath when they play strong opposistion in the form of London Wasps away from home next Sunday



picture courtesy of rockside

GLOUCESTER HOPEFUL TO LIFT TITLE

As Gloucester reach their final few games of the season, general manager Rob Burgess hopes that they take it all the way and capture the Premiership title

Gloucester Rugby Club have been very successful this season, both on the pitch and off it. With only three games to go, including the London Wasps, the cherry and whites will be hoping for their third triumph in the last ten seasons

However, Burgess claims the good position has only been down to the great form throughout the season: "The league is a reflection of your form over the past 6 months, and to be top in April is a good sign that we got the strength across the squad

The league doesn’t lie and we've been playing well consistently"

Air of Leadership

And the strong hold to the top of the table has been down to a young team this season. Burgess said: "Our side is a lot younger than teams at the top end of the table, which is a deliberate thing in many respects

We've made a point of trying to promote youngsters but you need experienced players around them. Especially in positions like centre

Mike Tindall gives a lot of support to Ryan Lamb at 10. Most of Ryan's best performances have come when Mike's been playing outside him. He brings an air of leadership to the team"

There are no fresh injuries for Gloucester coming towards the end of the season, James Forrester returns in a couple of weeks after cruciate ligament damage has kept him out for most of the season

The club have already begun preparing for next season, recruiting Bath Fly-half Olly Barkley. Burgess has a lot of admiration for the player: "He's a fantastic player and will give us a lot of versatility and added depth in our back line"

The club will be hoping for a home semi-final draw after the three games left, which can put them in the driving seat to reclaim something Gloucester fans believe is theirs.

Gloucester fan John Gardner, 58, from Southgate Street, said: "I'm a big follower of Gloucester and I'll be cheering them all the way to the end

They have a great young squad this season, if we win the Premiership, it will certainly show all the hard work we've put in all season"

Gloucester Rugby Club - Kingsholm