Team News: Gloucester Rugby

December 30, 2022
1364
Ultimate Rugby

The Gloucester Rugby side for their final fixture of 2022, when they welcome London Irish to Kingsholm tomorrow (3pm KO), has been named.

Head Coach George Skivington has made six changes to the starting XV that were defeated by Leicester Tigers at Welford Road on Christmas Eve.

In the front row, former Exile Harry Elrington replaces Val Rapava-Ruskin at loosehead. He is joined by Santiago Socino and Kirill Gotovtsev, who retain their places.

Alex Craig comes in for Freddie Clarke to partner Matias Alemanno in the second-row.

Player of the Match in the game against Irish at Kingsholm last season, Ruan Ackermann, switches from blindside flank to number 8, with Harry Taylor coming in at six. Captain Lewis Ludlow starts at open-side.

An all new half-back pairing sees Ben Meehan replace Stephen Varney at scrum-half and Santi Carreras move back to fly-half after starting at full back last week.

Seb Atkinson and Chris Harris continue their partnership in the centre, with Jonny May, Lloyd Evans and Ollie Thorley completing the team.

Thorley makes his return after a long period out with injury.

On the bench, George McGuigan, who made his Cherry & Whites debut against Tigers, is set to make his first appearance at Kingsholm in a Gloucester shirt.

He's joined by Alex Seville, Ciaran Knight, Cam Jordan, Albert Tuisue, Stephen Varney, Billy Twelvetrees and Tom Seabrook.