Polledri sets sights on Champions Cup
Jake Polledri hopes to end a memorable first season in top-flight rugby by helping Gloucester secure qualification for next season’s European Champions Cup.
A year ago Polledri was playing in National One for Hartpury College, but the career of the blindside flanker has progressed at such an impressive rate this season that the 22-year-old is now a first-team regular with Gloucester and an international, having made his debut for Italy in their final Natwest Six Nations match against Scotland.
A summer tour to Japan and a place in Italy’s World Cup squad next year are future targets for Polledri, but his immediate aim is to ensure Gloucester return to Europe’s top flight competition after four seasons in the Challenge Cup.
“At the start of the season I was just one of the young lads looking to put my hat into the ring. I certainly wasn’t expecting any of this,” Polledri said. “Playing international rugby wasn’t on any of the tick lists. But it shows that playing here and being given the opportunities here have been recognised elsewhere. It’s still a bit overwhelming.”
Thanks to this bonus-point victory, including a try from Polledri, Gloucester still have two routes open to the Champions Cup. A top-six Premiership finish remains their priority, but they also have the Challenge Cup – they host Newcastle in the semi-finals on Friday – as a possible insurance policy.
“Looking at the table we know every point counts so to get that little bonus point could be significant,” Polledri said. “Everyone bought into getting that, which shows the character here and the belief in what we are doing.
“We don’t really have a preference which way we qualify. We are going to try to win all the games left and put a team out to win that game. That’s our focus.”
Gloucester’s progress will be followed by Polledri’s father Peter, an unlikely convert to the Cherry-andwhite cause, as he played 466 matches in Bristol’s back row.
“The old man is getting used to coming here. He just loves his rugby. But he doesn’t go in The Shed, mainly because he won’t pay for the ticket,” Polledri said.