Surreal season for Chapman

CHARLIE Chapman is living his dream, playing for Gloucester after supporting the club as a boy from the Shed.

The 23-year-old has made the scrum-half position at Kingsholm his own in recent months as the club looks to get the most out of one of the most dangerous back threes in the league.

“To be playing for Gloucester is something that is hard to put into words,” said Chapman, one of three senior No.9s at the club along with Ben Meehan and Italy international Stephen Varney.

“Playing in front of the Shed is surreal. I was there as a kid and always dreamed of being out on the field. The fans realise that I love the club as much as anyone else and I am grateful for every opportunity I get.”

Gloucester head coach George Skivington has said that he wants his back three, which includes the likes of Louis ReesZammit, Ollie Thorley and the fit again Jonny May, to be given more opportunities. Chapman’s ability to move the ball quickly is part of that process.

“I have been grateful to be starting but I am not fully satisfied with my performances,” said Chapman. “There is good competition at scrum-half here and we push each other hard.

“We have the most deadly back three in the league. The game has changed a lot and ball speeds are becoming quicker. It is about how you can attack as swiftly as possible but also slow down the opposition’s possession.

“Get the ball in the hands of our outside backs and something good happens, a bit of magic. We are happy with the way we are moving forward, but we are not there yet.”

Gloucester welcome Saracens in the last round of the Premiership, a repeat of this month’s European Challenge Cup quarter-final which saw the visitors depart with an emphatic 44-15 victory.

“That defeat was hard to take a week after our big win over Bath,” said Chapman. “We have parked that match and, as a group, we are confident about what we can achieve.”