Clarke helps keep Gloucester victory parade hopes alive
Success-starved club aiming to reach play-offs and emulate La Rochelle’s transformation into major trophy winners
Freddie Clarke has already plotted out the open-top bus route in his head. “I could definitely see us driving around Gloucester docks, past the cathedral and then finishing up at the stadium,” he says with a grin. “It would be rammed all the way.”
The incredible scenes of celebration at La Rochelle, where more than half the city turned out for their Champions Cup parade, provoked pangs of jealousy throughout European rugby, but especially in Gloucester, a comparable rugbymad, success-starved provincial city. The lack of major trophies has never dented the passion at Kingsholm. In some ways, it seems to fuel it, as if supporters have taken ownership of the “long-suffering” adjective in lieu of anything more tangible.
“That’s certainly something I’m conscious of, that this is a very special rugby city where there has not been a lot of success,” says George Skivington, the director of rugby. “I’d absolutely love for us to do something like La Rochelle and get that same level of buzz. I’m pretty sure this place will shut down and celebrate for days. The supporters here are unbelievable. Some of them have been standing in the same spot in the Shed for 50 years. We’re desperate to give them something proper to celebrate.”
Gloucester have reached the Premiership play-offs only once in the past 10 years. The odds are against them today. They need to beat a second-string Saracens at home and hope Newcastle beat fourth-placed Northampton at Franklin’s Gardens.
“We have got a shot. It is a small shot, but it is still a shot,” Skivington says.
Nevertheless, there is an unmistakable feeling that Gloucester have turned a corner after last year’s 11thplace finish.
The decision to hand the keys to Skivington, a thirty-something firsttime director of rugby, does not appear so foolish in hindsight.
A former second row, Skivington
has built the most fearsome maul in the Premiership. Gloucester will finish the season with the best maul by whatever metric you choose – metres made, tries scored or penalties awarded.
“We’re quite a stretch ahead of the other teams,” Skivington says. “At times, we have probably relied on it a little too much, but we put a lot of work into that area... and now we are getting the rewards.”
Regardless of the way results go today, Skivington says his proudest achievement has been fostering a playing group who will put everything behind the collective. “I really believe we have a special group here. We have managed to knock the egos out of the group. I don’t mind a little bit of arrogance. I think
that’s important, but we have managed to brush the egos aside so no one prances around the place acting like they own it. Some of our biggest names are our most humble people.”
If one player encapsulates Skivington’s vision, it is Clarke, who was converted from back to second row at the start of the season.
“He ended up in that role by default, but has stepped up and been outstanding,” Skivington says. “I’ve seen a different Freddie Clarke to what I saw last year and maybe that’s because he’s got that extra responsibility and leadership role. He can legitimately play four, five, six or eight and I don’t think he is a million miles away from getting international recognition.”
At 29, Clarke might be a little old to be labelled discovery of the year, but having made his Premiership debut at 25, he is keen to play catchup. “I remember at the start of the season, we played Newcastle and I told Sam Raven [the team manager] ‘watch me wing this’.” Clarke said.
“I had a good game and afterwards he said, ‘If that’s what you call winging it, then I think you are doing OK’. It is probably quite rare for a player my age to get given a completely new challenge, but I have really embraced it.”
The target now is a top-four place and a route to Twickenham and that elusive big trophy. “We have got a way to go and these things do take time, but that’s where we want to be,” Skivington says.
Put the bus booking on hold.